Villagers must wait until new year for controversial Essington DX Freight decision

DX Freight – formerly Nightfreight – submitted an application to transform a 44-acre site in Hobnock Road in Essington into a distribution centre and offices back in August.

The planning application has caused uproar in the village, sparking protests from angry residents. South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson has even held a referendum over the proposal.

Traffic congestion and highway safety are among the concerns being considered by planning officers at South Staffordshire Council.

But a final decision has been put back due to a delay in receiving a report from Highways England, which is taking part in the consultation for the plan.

The firm had aimed to open the new distribution centre by the summer of 2017.

Under the plans it would move its headquarters and 400 staff from Willenhall.

Councillor David Clifft, Chairman of Essington Parish Council, said: "This application is the biggest threat to our community to-date and would change a way of life for many of its residents.

"The community is totally united in opposing this proposal.

"In all of my time as a councillor, I haven't known Highways England ask for more time to make a decision, so it is clearly a complex matter.

"Its input is massively important, if they say it is a no-go, the plans will be squashed.

"Until they come back to us with a recommendation, however, we are stuck."

Two public meetings were held in September for residents to have their say on the plans, both of which saw hundreds attend to express their concern.

Issues around road safety, congestion, noise and air pollution and the proximity of the proposed site to nearby schools were some of the main issues raised.

Following these meetings, South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson held a referendum to allow villagers to have their say.

At one stage, 857 people had responded with 99.1 per cent of them against the propsoal.

In light of the delay being announced, he said: "I very much welcome the delay to these plans, they are clearly crucial to getting the full picture.

"Like most local residents, they are something I am completely against and I hope when the decision is made, this won't be allowed to go ahead."

If the DX Freight plans are approved, the company will transfer its staff from its two existing sites in Willenhall in a process due to take 12 months.