Traveller site plan rejected over flooding concern

Welshampton and Lyneal Parish Council said it had "serious concerns" if the site went ahead

Plans to build a new traveller site in north Shropshire have been rejected following flooding concerns.

Proposals for four caravan pitches on land three miles from Ellesmere were rejected by Shropshire Council.

It comes after 38 objections were made against the application for the site.

Councillors said half of the site would fall into flood zones and "insufficient information" had been submitted to demonstrate that those living on the site would be able to evacuate safely during the event of a flood.

Council ecologists identified that the area proposed could potentially be cut off if watercourses near the site were to overflow.

The council had previously instigated enforcement action against a mobile home sited on the land in May 2019.

Welshampton and Lyneal Parish Council objected, saying it had "serious concerns" about some of the information presented with the application.

The application was a resubmission of a bid for the land, which was first tabled in 2022 but was withdrawn last year, with the number of pitches revised down to four from five.

A supporting statement supplied with the application said the site would help to meet a shortfall of traveller pitches in the area, which should weigh in its favour.

"The application site comprises an irregular section of land containing existing stable buildings currently in use by the applicant for the keeping of horses, along with a substantial area of existing hardstanding," said planning agent Samuel Brown of Phillip Brown Associates.

The statement added that while the site was located in open countryside, it was not considered remote, and the occupants would have access to local amenities.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.