Push for green to be place of tranquillity

A controversial town green which was the subject of two public inquiries and was earmarked for a £30 million health centre could now become a place of tranquillity.

The green forms part of a five-acre site off Gobowen Road, Oswestry, which health bosses had hoped to use for a health centre. Their plans had to be revised after the land was registered as a town green following two public inquiries.

The health centre is now being built in the former Cambrian Railway Works building.

Now the aim is to turn the town green into a place for quiet recreation, walking and a place where wildlife can flourish after Shropshire Council revealed funding of £50,000 from a government initiative called Playbuilder could be spent on the site.

Residents have been given the chance to have their say on its future at a consultation held yesterday in Coney Green.

Shaun Burkey, conservation and community officer at the council, said he had received a "brilliant" response to the consultation. "On Friday I posted flyers through 170 postboxes inviting people to come down," he said.

"The primary message I am getting back is they want it as a tidy area, but they want it natural as well, they don't want it totally formalised. Generic suggestions are more play areas for kids which ties quite nicely with our funding."

Mr Burkey added: "We've got £50,000 to spend on the site by next April. The consultation will continue but we need to get things moving in the next few weeks."

A webpage is also available on the council website for people to have their say.