Newport’s borough councillors have today poured scorn on plans for a huge development in the town, branding the latest proposal “overwhelming”.
The Conservative councillors have reacted angrily to multi-million pound plans for hundreds of new homes, a supermarket and business park on land off the A518 bypass.
Members of the public got their first chance to view the plans – drawn up by developers Davidsons Developments and St Modwen in conjunction with Telford & Wrekin Council – at a meeting at Burton Borough School yesterday evening.
Councillors claim that similar plans had been thrown out by Conservative bosses at Telford & Wrekin before Labour snatched power in May.
That proposal, put before borough councillors in November, was similar but with a smaller number of new homes, a full rebuild of Burton Borough School and a new community recycling centre in the planned business park.
The plans were stopped at the drawing stage as councillors raised concerns about the effects of such a large-scale development.
Newport South Councillor Adrian Meredith said: “It is disgraceful and deceitful.
“What we have put before us is a rehashed plan with most of the benefits removed and a far larger number of houses.
“The size and scale of this development is just overwhelming for our town and a huge supermarket could easily turn Newport High Street into a retail graveyard.”
The new supermarket off Station Road could be up to 60,000 square feet – 50 per cent larger than Sainsbury’s in Telford.
The development would create more than 500 jobs.
Roy Scammell, borough councillor for Newport North, has also shown his cards.
He said this week: “This represents a very poor deal for Newport.
“We are being asked to accept hundreds of new houses and a supermarket that no-one has asked for.
“Why should local residents accept these proposals? I cannot imagine what they are getting out of the deal.”
Councillor Adam Stanton, of Newport West, said Newport could lose its identity.
He added: “With 750 homes now proposed within the town, all of which are to be built on our town’s greenspace, we move closer to losing our town’s natural identity.
“Plans such as these being brought forward can simply not be tolerated.”
Councillor Eric Carter urged residents and traders to participate in discussions.
He said a public meeting would be called and Labour Councillor Richard Overton would be invited to take questions.
“With the enthusiasm he showed in announcing the development proposals, I am sure he will be more than happy to attend and share his vision for our town,” said Councillor Carter.
By Sean Wozencroft