A campaign has been launched to stop plans to turn an Oswestry family home into multiple housing.

Members of the Green Party are leading the movement after residents objected to the proposal for the five-bedroom property in Ferrers Road which would be converted into 11 bedsits sharing two kitchens.

Local resident and campaigner Anne Grovestock-Thompson alerted Councillors Duncan Kerr, Mike Isherwood and Olly Rose after seeing a site notice.

More than 50 people attended the Oswestry Town Council meeting where members unanimously objected to the plan.

Cllr Kerr, who described the proposed housing as “slums”, later said: “It is a sad indictment of our current housing shortage that we have landlords seeking to exploit the vulnerable by offering housing conditions that are the human equivalent of battery cages.

“Tenants would have just a bed-sitting room and use of a kitchen with just one cooker and sink shared with another four or five people they don’t know. Apart from that there is no amenity space in the house and very little garden area either.

“Research shows that the risk of death from fire in such properties is six times that of a singly occupied house. Houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are not just unhealthy for their occupants the over intensity of this occupation can put strain on local amenities and may cause issue of noise and disturbance for surrounding families.”

Mrs Grovestock-Thompson told the meeting: “This development is out of character for Ferrers Road and is not in keeping with the local character.

“This proposal would generate noise and disturbance, which would create stress and affect the neighbours.”

Applicant, Arran Pritchard, said the accommodation could be made available to professional and universal credit tenants.