Shropshire Local Plan Review Consultation on Preferred Sites

I want to give everyone an update on the Shropshire Local Plan Review Consultation on Preferred Sites and how it could potentially affect Shifnal and its residents. I have met with Council Officers recently along with Kevin Turley to give them an opportunity to explain their proposal and rationale. I was very unhappy when I first saw what was proposed as it directly contradicts Shifnal’s own neighborhood plan. We all also made it very clear at a meeting that we considered the border between Telford and Shifnal to be ‘Gold-Plated’ green belt. We are worried about further encroachment in to Green belt and also between the borders of the towns. It is difficult for me to remain impartial given how directly I would be affected by any proposed changes including a bypass from the Wolverhampton Road round to the Priorslee Road. I can understand why they would want to develop a bypass, with the hoped result that traffic and congestion within the town centre would be reduced. However currently there is no data identifying where traffic is coming from and going to (it may well be generated by residents themselves, in which case a bypass would not really help the situation). When I campaigned to become a Councillor, people understood the need to build houses for future generations but were frustrated that infrastructure has not improved citing the roads, doctor’s surgery and schools as examples. Shifnal has taken its fair share of new houses within the council and now is the time for consolidation in order to bring services in line with the growing population. Although the plans released are for the future (30 years), there is always the worry that this could be brought forward once planning approval is granted. I can assure you that I am working behind the scenes with officers and cabinet members to make it clear what my concerns and the concerns of residents are. The Town council will be meeting on Thursday 15th November and I urge everyone that can to attend. It’s vitally important in a democracy that we obtain the public’s views and represent them as best we can. This proposal is in its very early stages still, there is plenty of time to get it amended, but we need to start now and create an effective plan to ensure the Town is developed sensibly for us and future generations. I am hoping to set up surgeries to give people an opportunity to provide me with their views and to obtain clarification on some of the detail.Shropshire Local Plan Review Consultation on Preferred Sites