Oswestry Town Council reasserts opposition to hillfort housing

After hearing representations from campaign group HOOOH at a recent planning meeting, Oswestry Town Council is writing to Shropshire Council to reiterate its opposition to development (OSW004) by Old Oswestry hillfort which remains in the SAMDev plan.

During the public session, HOOOH adviser and heritage planning expert, Tim Malim, addressed councillors ahead of an agenda item on Inspector Claire Sherratt’s SAMDev modifications.

Mr Malim cautioned that despite the Inspector’s decision to keep OSW004 (117 houses off Whittington Road) in the plan, a strong case remains against development and he outlined a number of HOOOH’s current contentions.

He also circulated copies of a recent article in the Guardian/Observer where leading lights in archaeology speak out against development, including the eminent Iron Age specialist Professor Sir Barry Cunliffe, and Dr Mike Heyworth, director of the Council for British Archaeology.

Town clerk, David Preston, then read out an email and circulated visuals from Dr George Nash, an archaeologist and HOOOH adviser, raising new concerns that archaeological reports/evidence concerning land at OSW004 have been insufficiently carried out and selectively used in justifying the case for development.

Councillor Chris Stokes voiced his continuing concerns over OSW004, saying that “in view of the information presented before us, it needs to be excluded from the plan.”

This sentiment was echoed by Councillor Alan Davis who proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor and former Mayor, John Gareth Jones, to write to Shropshire Council to underline their opposition. A vote was taken, with nine councillors in favour, one against and two abstaining.

David Preston recorded for the minutes that a letter would be actioned reaffirming in the strongest terms the Council’s full support for HOOOH and requesting removal of OSW004 from SAMDev.

In February 2014 after voting to oppose OSW004, the town council wrote to Shropshire Council asking for ‘a commitment to look to shape planning guidance for the hill fort and its surrounds for the future, bringing together interested agencies to formulate a strategy and policies looking into the historical and archaeological protection and promotion of the site.’

HOOOH has briefed and sent documents to a specialist planning lawyer in preparation to make a legal challenge. The group is currently setting up an online fund to accept donations coming in from concerned supporters around the world.