Protest against plans for 500 homes

Protesters have demonstrated against plans to build up to 500 new homes in Shifnal.

Harrow Estates, part of Barratt Redrow, is seeking to develop 73 acres of land on either side of Stanton Road, with half of it being used for the houses and the other half for employment land.

It has promised an area of parkland and said the plans would boost local employment, but some residents have complained the town has seen too much development in recent years.

More than two dozen turned out with placards on Wednesday to demonstrate outside a consultation event at the local secondary school.

They have argued the town's infrastructure cannot cope with more homes.

John Moore, the spokesperson for campaign group Shifnal Matters, said: "The problem is a cumulative one.

"Shifnal has had several thousand homes over the last 10 years and no expansion in facilities."

He said Shifnal also had a "Victorian town centre" which was unable to cope with large volumes of traffic, plus a GP practice and schools that were over-subscribed.

The site is currently fields and Moore said: "If you're going to build on the green belt, if you're going to expand the town further, you have to have infrastructure first."

If planning permission is approved, the homes will be built on land opposite the local secondary school.

Michelle King, the head teacher at Idsall School, said: "We need to look at the implications for us."

She confirmed the school was over subscribed and said: "I don't think Shifnal has the amount of facilities to cope with those plans."

She was also not in favour of her school having to expand to accommodate more children and said: "You can get too big as a school and I think it's well-balanced at the moment."

The BBC has approached Harrow Estates for a response.

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