More than 170 people have voiced their objections to plans for a large-scale housing development in the shadow of an historic monument.
Galliers Homes submitted fresh plans for 91 houses at the foot of the Old Oswestry Hillfort a month ago to the anger of the Hands Off Old Oswestry Hillfort campaign group.
The developer had previously shelved controversial proposals for 100 houses at the site, off Whittington Road, but said the new scheme addressed the concerns that had been raised.
But campaigners fighting to protect the Iron Age hillfort and its surroundings remained dissatisfied and have come out in their droves to make their views known to Shropshire Council planners.
As well as Oswestry residents and members of the public, the application has also drawn objections from the Council for British Archaeology, the Prehistoric Society, Rescue – The British Archaeological Trust and Oswestry Town Council.
Bob Sydes from the Council for British Archaeology said: “The CBA considers any development on any land parcels within the setting of the Scheduled Old Oswestry Hillfort to be substantially harmful to significance and the CBA strongly objects to this application.
“We urge the local planning authority to refuse this application because it will result in unjustified substantial harm to the significance and setting of the Scheduled Old Oswestry Hillfort.”
The Prehistoric Society said: “We have written in opposition to previous planning proposals here and our concerns about the potential damage to people’s enjoyment and understanding of this site remain unchanged.
“This is on the basis of impact of the new housing in views to and from the hillfort.
“We urge you to reject the application on hte basis of its harm to the significance of the hillfort by development within its setting.”
Rescue – The British Archaeological Trust said any development in the monument’s setting would be “catastrophic” to its archaeological integrity.
Galliers Homes claims the scheme would only have a minimal impact on views from the hillfort.
The developer also says changes in the revised application have been made with respect to the setting, with a landscaping providing a buffer between the housing and the countryside.
The application will be decided by Shropshire Council in the coming months.
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