STOP PRESS - AS OF TODAY - MONDAY 7 SEPTEMBER - WE HAVE CLOSED THIS JUST GIVING ACCOUNT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TREMENDOUS SUPPORT !

SAVE SNATCHFIELD GROUP

Photo Information –

Main Photo - The Snatchfield Farm Site (the last remaining unimproved medieval meadow in Church Stretton) - photo taken looking towards Church Stretton and the Long Mynd.

Profile Photo - The Jack Mytton Way (popular in all seasons with visiting walkers and cyclists) runs the length of Snatchfield Farm – photo taken looking towards Hazler and Ragleth Hills.

About the Save Snatchfield Group and our Campaign.

The Save Snatchfield Group are campaigning against a major 70 home development proposed at Snatchfield Farm, Church Stretton, in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Beauty. The proposed site is the last remaining unimproved medieval meadow in Church Stretton and is highly visable from many of the surrounding iconic hills and footpaths. Planning Permission has been refused 7 times in the past at this beautiful location and the site has well documented access and drainage issues. Major development at this site would do immeasurable harm to the AONB and is overwhelmingly opposed. In the most recent Local Plan consultation exercise, 96.8% of respondents (281) who expressed a view on Snatchfield Farm objected to its inclusion as a preferred site.

Although the Save Snatchfield Group was originally formed solely to object (and we are continuing to do so vigorously) to the Snatchfield Farm development, we also now have broader aims as well. In short, we want to ensure that any plans for housing or employment in the Shropshire Hills AONB directly meet identified local needs and that any new development fully respects the AONB designation. A dedicated Development Plan Document (DPD) for the Shropshire Hills AONB would achieve what Shropshire Council’s current ‘top down’ Local Plan will not and we are urging Shropshire Council to adopt this approach. You may have seen the article in the Shropshire Star where we outlined our case. https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/environment/2020/08/01/campaigners-ask-council-to-save-shropshire-hills-from-development/

Donations to this site will only be used to fund professional planning and legal advice to be used as part of the Local Plan Regulation 18 and Regulation 19 Consultations. We will publish details of all expenditure, as well as sharing the professional advice we receive. Once we close this site, the sum raised will be transferred to a dedicated 'save snatchfield' bank account.

Regular updates and information about the ongoing Local Plan Review will be posted on the Save Snatchfield website. https://www.savesnatchfield.org/

In June 2019, Councillor Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for leisure described the Shropshire Hills AONB as “the jewel in the crown of Shropshire” adding that it was an area that “the council hasn’t always looked after well enough or given enough protection to”. We couldn’t have put it better ourselves !

Hopefully you will be able to support our campaign.

Thank you.

Save Snatchfield Steering Group