Eyesore Oswestry street must be sorted ASAP

Helen Morgan is calling for an eyesore Oswestry street layout to be sorted out “ASAP” to boost local businesses and benefit tourism.Plans to improve Church Street in the town centre by expanding pedestrian space with planters, street furniture and a formal one-way system have been strongly supported by local organisations but have been delayed by Shropshire Council.

Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat MP for the area, has written to the council urging action to make sure the great work by Oswestry Town Council and Business and Improvement District does not go to waste.

The Oswestry BID team secured £70,000 from the Heritage Action Zone to invest in the area but the new furniture and planters it bought are stranded in storage due to the lack of action by Shropshire Council.

Meanwhile the Town is preparing to represent the Heart of England in this year’s Britain in Bloom contest. However, Church Street remains demarked mostly by traffic cones and ‘HOG’ barriers, as it has been since the pandemic.

The town’s MP has now waded into the debate, calling on Shropshire Council to get a move on and sort out the street.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire said, “Church Street’s temporary layout has been in place far too long and needs to be sorted out ASAP. Lots of hard-working local business owners would see an almost immediate improvement as a result of these works.

“A thriving high street is essential to any market town, and Oswestry has a great opportunity to make itself more attractive to visitors and residents alike.

“It is now down to Shirehall bosses to clear this bottleneck and get the project moving. Otherwise great work done locally by the BID and the Town Council - and funding secured from the Heritage Action Zone - will go to waste.

“I have discussed this with the leader of Shropshire Council and reiterated how keen residents in Oswestry are to get going as soon as possible.

“We all want Oswestry to be an even better place to live, and I really hope that this can make a difference for our biggest market town.”