Council will force depot sale
A compulsory purchase order will be slapped on Shrewsbury's bus depot so it can be demolished to make way for the regeneration of the historic Flax Mill. Borough council officers have been in discussion for months with Arriva over the relocation of its depot in Ditherington road.
But as a "last resort" cabinet members agreed to make the order in closed discussions on Monday night.
Chief executive Robin Hooper said: "We need to go through a number of organisations, one of which is to seek full council approval, but now it is in the public domain that that is what the council wishes to do.
"We have bought Salop Glass and we have been in negotiations with Senate Electrical for some time and I think there is a date for completion. But we will probably extend the compulsory order just in case there are any underlying issues."
Mr Hooper said alternative sites for the depot were still under discussion.
"They would like to make sure that they can find the appropriate site for the depot and obviously that is very important," he said. "But we haven't found one which meets their criteria at the moment. With a compulsory purchase order situation, that should move things along."
The master plan for the regeneration of the Flax Mill, pictured above, envisages a development that includes work units, shops, a museum, and homes.
Councillor Malcolm Price, whose ward includes Ditherington Road, said: "To make this site work properly with the master plan, and make it viable, we need to bring all these schemes together.
"I'm delighted by the support given by my fellow councillors on Monday night."
No-one from Arriva was available for comment today.
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