OSWESTRY Rural Parish Council's chairman has again called on any residents who want to object to a planning application for changing the use of a field to register their views online.

At its virtual meeting this week, the council has objected to the change of use from a pony paddock to gypsy/traveller site to include a static caravan, a touring caravan, among other things at land adjacent to Penymaes Croesau Bach outside Oswestry.

Chairman Peter Richardson said that while the parish council itself has received plenty of calls objecting to the application, people need to find a way of putting their view on Shropshire Council's planning portal.

"We are urging residents to go to the Shropshire Council planning portal and register their objections," he said.

"We've had quite a few residents getting in touch us saying they object, but the only objections the planning officers will take on are through the online portal.

"We have mentioned this in our minutes from the meeting as part of our objection, that some residents might not be able to.

"But we have had plenty of objections.

"It's open countryside and will always try to protect that. The lands has been a pony paddock for many years and to ask for a change of use to that would be wrong.

"We've always tried to protect the countryside vociferously – we're trying to do that now."

Mr Richardson added that the parish council has highlighted the lack of comments in its own meeting minutes in order to reinforce the point of view.

The minutes from the meeting stated: "It was proposed, seconded and agreed to object and inform Shropshire Council that although members had received objections from residents their objections did not appear on the planning portal."

Anyone wishing to object can head to Shropshire Council's planning portal and search 20/05422/FUL.