What's going on in Stoke Heath: Plans could see London families waiting for social housing placed in Shropshire
Dutton Close in Stoke Heath's found itself at the heart of another headline
Shropshire Council's voicing concerns over plans homeless people in London could be housed in the tiny village of Stoke Heath.
Enfield Council's proposing to place families on its social housing waiting list in properties that are currently on the market in Dutton Close.
Although leaders in Shropshire can't legally prevent the move, they says it's not the right location or the right time.
It's not the first time controversy has surrounded empty houses on the street this year, with plans to house asylum seekers there in July scrapped after backlash from leaders and residents.
In a statement, Shropshire Council urged decision makers in Enfield to rethink the potential move.
Leaders in Shropshire can't legal stop moves
"The council has written to Enfield Council to formally record its significant concerns about these proposals and to make clear that, in its view, Dutton Close is not a suitable location for these placements," the statement said.
"The site is poorly connected, with limited access to transport, services and other essential support. It also has no community facilities nearby.
"This would make it extremely difficult for individuals and families placed there to settle, access the help they may need and integrate into the wider community.
"While the council recognises that it has no legal grounds to prevent Enfield Council placing households at this site through private rented accommodation, it has expressed its clear view that this is not the right location and not the right time. "
MP for The Wrekin, Mark Pritchard, has also voiced concerns over the plans.
"I am completely against these bonkers new plans to relocate people from London to Dutton Close in Stoke Heath," he said in a statement on social media.
"The new-build homes were built to provide affordable housing for local people, not to house people from London who can't find homes there because London's Labour Mayor, Sadiq Khan, keeps falling short of his housing targets.
"I will fight these plans all the way."
In response to the concerns, Enfield Council said it's priority it ensuring it's families have access to suitable housing, but reaffirms no concreate decision has yet been made.
The authority told Hits Radio that the council has not placed any families in Dutton Close so far, but cannot comment whether landlords have made agreements with tenants directly.
Enfield Council said no concrete decision has been made yet
"Like many councils in London and across the country, Enfield is facing significant challenges in securing suitable and affordable accommodation for households to whom we owe a housing duty," a spokesperson said.
"Our priority is to ensure eligible families have access to safe and sustainable housing.
"As part of this work, we routinely explore a range of potential accommodation options and assess their suitability against the needs of households, our statutory responsibilities and local housing policies.
"Any tenancy arrangement at this location would be a private agreement between the landlord and the tenant, rather than through a lease held by Enfield Council.
"The landlord may be in discussions with a number of interested parties regarding the future use of the properties.
"No final decisions have been made by Enfield Council in relation to this site and no households have been placed there by the Council."