RESIDENTS have called for plans to sell a school playing field for £2.7 million to be scrapped claiming the proposals for a housing on the site will create traffic chaos.
Householders, who have formed the ‘Stop the Ercall 85’ group, have also branded plans to rebuild Ercall Wood Technology College as a ‘body blow’.
Outline plans have been submitted to knock down Ercall Wood Technology College, in Wellington, and build a 900-pupil school in its place, plus community sports facilities and 130 new homes, with 85 of the homes on the school’s current playing fields.
A 13-week consultation period is now under way.
A spokesman for Telford & Wrekin Council said without the income from the sale of the fields the new school ‘would not be viable’.
Residents say they are not against plans for the school but are opposed to homes being built on one of Wellington’s few remaining greenfield sites. The Stop the Ercall 85 group represents residents in Golf Links Lane, Christine Avenue and Holyhead Road.
John Kearns, a member of the group, said: “We want the council to find the money they need elsewhere and leave the playing fields alone. One of the key issues is the implication for traffic on what is, after all, still a fairly narrow lane.
“The size of the proposed estate will result in the nearby roads having to absorb something like 200 additional cars – that’s virtually doubling the local traffic in the surrounding area.”
He said new plans for the school was ‘another body blow’ as it would cater for another 150 students – bringing the total to 900.
A spokesman for the council said: “The council is aware of the concerns of residents.”