Nature is not for profit, say the Friends of The Rea Brook Corridor, who have launched a campaign to protect precious land from development in the Meole Brace and Bayston Hill area, near Shrewsbury.
An outline planning application has been submitted by Bloor Homes to build up to 210 new houses on land immediately north of New Pulley Lane and next to the Rea Brook. The action group’s objectives are to help safeguard the fragile wildlife habitats, to avoid additional flooding and to retain the existing ‘green space’ between Meole Brace and Bayston Hill.
The Friends of The Rea Brook Corridor are asking people to comment urgently on the Planning Application by contacting Shropshire Council at planning.northern@shropshire.gov.uk and quoting the reference 25/04875/OUT in their email.
The action group says they have identified several issues; such as pollution of the Rea Brook that does not meet current regulations, the local sewage system is at full capacity, and local GP services and schools are also already full.
Additionally, the campaign group say that the traffic generated will impact significantly on New Pulley Lane and the already congested Hereford Road, and will adversely affect the strategic road network of the A49 and A5, impacting Dobbies traffic island, Meole Brace Retail Park and Meole Brace traffic island.
Bernie Bentick, councillor for the Meole Ward in Shrewsbury said:“We want Shropshire Council to restrict speculative development by using Special Planning Directives to include the lower Rea Brook Corridor in its Local Nature Recovery Strategy and to take active steps to facilitate the planting of riparian woodland and hedgerows along the lower Rea Brook Corridor – that provides a green lifeline from rural Shropshire into Shrewsbury Town Centre.
“This proposed development site was specifically excluded as a suitable site in the recently withdrawn Local Plan, as it had high landscape sensitivity, had a high risk of groundwater flooding, contributed to the gap between Shrewsbury and Bayston Hill, was in the major Rea Brook green corridor, and was outside the boundaries for development.”
Bernie Bentick continued: “Let’s unite as a community to preserve the lower Rea Brook Corridor and protect this vital green space now to ensure that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty and ecological significance, while mitigating increasing risks of flooding. I welcome people to join the Friends of Rea Brook Corridor and help to stop this development, and indeed help to care for the future of this lovely countryside. Together, we can make a difference.”
Max Whitehead, Planning Director at Bloor Homes Midlands, said “We are very grateful to everyone who took part in our recent pre-application consultation on plans for a development at Pulley Lane. All the feedback comments we received were considered as we finalised our outline plans.
“We recognise that drainage is an important consideration for those living in the vicinity of Rea Brook, and our proposals will include a drainage strategy for the site that will ensure surface water is appropriately managed. We are particularly pleased to be able to propose extensive high-quality landscaped open spaces for the whole community to enjoy.”