The refusal by councillors to allow new homes in Tilstock to be occupied because of the fear of overflowing sewers is to be investigated.
A public inquiry will be launched in the next two weeks after North Shropshire district councillors refused to allow people access to their new homes until the village’s sewage system had been improved.
The developers, Charles Church North West, are angry at the ban on allowing people to occupy the site and want it lifting. But residents want to ensure it is not opened until the sewage system is improved.
Concerns at the adequacy of the sewage system at the new development on Church Farm, Church Lane, were raised at January’s development control meeting.
The developers had been working on the 29 new homes, but officials feared the current system would not cope.
Work on the new Severn Trent pumping station, which councillors believe would alleviate the problem, is not expected to begin for another three months. Villagers and councillors have said they intend to fight the potential lifting of the ban. Parish councillor Pearl Clawley said that a leaflet has been dropped through the letter boxes of villagers urging them to take part in the inquiry.
Jill Dickinson, a spokesperson for Severn Trent, said the current system would be able to cope with the additional housing and the new pumping facility is estimated to be completed by March.
A spokesperson from Charles Church North West said: “The public inquiry is to hear our appeal against an earlier decision to refuse our application to have the planning condition removed.”
The inquiry will be held at the Civic Centre in Whitchurch on July 15 at 10am.
