COUNCILLORS have approved details for a controversial 25-home development in Wem despite a last-minute objection by campaigners.

Members of the North Shropshire Planning Committee were presented with a letter signed by solicitors acting on behalf of residents of Roden Grove shortly before the start of their meeting.

But they followed the advice of planning officers and their own solicitor who said the issues raised relate to the outline permission which was previously granted by planning officers in 2015, and a civil matter over ownership of a hedgerow on the site which lies outside their remit.

Cllr George Nash, representing Wem Town Council at the meeting, was allowed to present the document to Shropshire councillors after he said he was not informer of the meeting until Friday.

He said: "The town council and all the residents of Roden Grove are still concerned about what is going on."

"It is a civil matter but the applicant had no right to remove an ancient hedgerow," he continued, "The ownership is not present of the original application - we have instructed a barrister to challenge this."

However, members were able to discuss concerns raised over flooding on the site.

Cllr Nash said six incidents have been recorded since 2010 and added that the new development would "exacerbate" this.

He was backed up by Cllr Pauline Dee, who is a Shropshire member for Wem, who said: "This site has a long history.

"The North Shropshire District Council refused permission originally and even a previous builder stopped work because of the flooding, so what is the difference now."

Helen Howie, agent for the applicants Mrs ME Ward and Fletcher Homes, confirmed they propose a drainage system which will run off into the River Roden at the same rate as it does now and was backed by the council's drainage experts.

But Cllr Dee added: "Another application for Mill House also plans to do that. Dramwell Lane [which is further downstream] already and have done for many years. There is only so much that can be allowed to run off into the Roden."

Opening the committee discussions, Cllr Vince Hunt described the application as "a difficult one".

He continued: "I completely understand the concerns of residents in Roden Grove, but what we have here is a reserved matters application, the right to build there has already been established.

"It does really come down to the drainage matter which our experts say will improve with the proposed changes."

He added: "If it was to go to appeal it would come back and fall heavily on us.

"A lot of discussion is about the right to build homes and that was decided in 2015.

"We have a developer who has not satisfied local residents but has tried to find some middle ground.

"Nobody wants to lose green fields but there are many places in Shropshire that will be built on in the future."