Statement about letter to residents from SCC

Official statement from the Parish Council

Please be assured that the Parish Council is here to represent you and we will always put the interests of our residents first.

We asked Shropshire Council for a meeting immediately after hearing about the plans for Dutton Close on Wednesday 17th June. They agreed to meet us online on Monday 22nd June with the Leader and the Chief Executive of Shropshire Council present.

At that meeting we expressed the community’s (and our) concerns, frustrations and anger with the proposal. We highlighted the complete unsuitability of the area. The absence of essential facilities and amenities and the lack of any public transport, makes the location wholly unsuitable.

We emphasised that these houses had been developed in response to local need, and that the Home Office’s actions were depriving local people of the opportunity to buy them even before they had come on the market.

Shropshire Council listened and agreed to write to residents of Dutton Close, to provide clarity. The Parish Council were given a short period of time to comment on the draft letter, but, on the whole, our requested additions and changes have been ignored. We are pressing the Council for an explanation.

In the meantime, we continue to actively seek additional information from all relevant parties and to advocate on behalf of our residents. We will issue regular updates on what we know.

Please keep us informed of any response you receive from other sources. We now have a dedicated email address for issues concerning Dutton Close: [email protected]

Phil Butters

Chair, Stoke Upon Tern Parish Council

26th June 2026