Residents in a rural Shropshire parish are demanding a referendum on plans to build up to 500 new homes in their community. Tasley, not far from Bridgnorth, contains little except a church, a small village hall, and a handful of houses. According to the parish council, its rolling green fields are an example of the traditional landscape which gives England its character. But the proposed development would increase the population from around 500 today to 2,500 by 2011. Residents say this would destroy the local countryside and the local way of life. The housing plans are included in the draft district housing plan drawn up by Bridgnorth District Council. The authority argues that it is ordered by central government to build new homes, and has no choice except to find somewhere to put them. But Tasley Parish Council is now exercising its right to demand a referendum. It believes that under the 1972 Local Government Act, it can force the district council to hold a public vote in the parish, and has formally put in a request. Under the terms of the act, the district council would not be obliged to accept the outcome but the vote would be a forceful statement of public opinion. It is believed that only one other parish referendum has been called under the act - in 2003, in East Coker, Somerset. Residents there were successful in persuading Yeovil District Council to scrap plans to build new homes in their parish, and to build them in Yeovil itself. The legal team at Bridgnorth District Council is now considering the request and examining the relevant legislation. Peter Dent, the chair of Tasley Parish Council, said: "Electors of the parish have requested the referendum because they are totally opposed to the engulfing of their green fields by Tarmac and brick." The homes were being proposed to satisfy demand for housing in Bridgnorth, mostly from people in the Black Country who were likely to commute to work in places like Wolverhampton and Dudley, he said. Mr Dent added: "There are no proposals for supporting infrastructure, such as shops, surgeries and schools. "The parish does not have post offices, a public house, a school or other facilities. Bus services are infrequent and the nearest railway station is 12 miles away." Coun Les Winwood (Ind Bridgnorth West), chairman of the Bridgnorth District Council community improvement committee, said: "The problem is that houses have to be built. The Government has given us a figure for the number we have to build. "Nobody wants a development next to them, and I don't blame the residents of Tasley for taking the stance they are, but the houses need to be built." | 
