GOVERNMENT officials have today (Thursday, October 8) confirmed they will not call in the proposed £80 million new redevelopment of West Midland Safari Park.

Worried members of Bewdley Town Council and Bewdley Civic Society had written to the Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government asking for his intervention on the planned new water park, hotel and conference centre and spa at the attraction.

They told The Shuttle that they were concerned about the impact on traffic and building on greenbelt land on the site.

But Wyre Forest District Council, who approved the application back in September, has been notified by the Government that they would not be calling it in.

The authority had automatically referred the proposal to the Secretary of State to offer him the opportunity to make the final decision due the size of the proposed complex.

But today the National Planning Casework Unit informed the council of the Secretary of State’s decision, saying: “The Secretary of State has decided not to call in the application. He is content that the application should be determined by the local planning authority.”

It means planning approval will be given for the development once a legal agreement – known as a 106 Agreement – has been reached. This agreement will require the development to fund additional Sunday bus services on Sundays and Bank Holidays between Kidderminster Railway Station and Bewdley Town Centre.

Councillor John-Paul Campion, Cabinet member for Planning and Economic Regeneration, said: “This scheme will provide a real boost to the local economy, creating jobs for local people and building on Wyre Forest’s reputation as a major tourist destination.

“Today’s announcement shows that the Secretary of State is happy the planning process was carried out correctly and the local planning decision will stand.

“We will be working closely with the county council’s highways authority to address local concerns about additional traffic this development may generate.”