Hopes of progress over bus depot bid

The relocation of Shrewsbury's bus depot could happen more quickly than initially planned, leaders behind multi-million pound plans to redevelop the town's historic flax mill said today.

Councillor Keith Barrow, leader of Shropshire Council, said the authority was buying up Arriva's Ditherington depot in order to make way for a transformation of the dilapidated mill it fronts.

A planning application has been approved for a new depot in the Harlescott area of the town.

Councillor Barrow said architects have also been asked to draw up more exciting plans for the site and said that if funding can be found, work could start by the end of next year.

It comes as Shrewsbury councillor David Farmer demanded to know what had happened to £7 million allocated to the scheme by the former borough council.

Mr Farmer said he believed the money had been ring-fenced for the scheme but claimed it had now been re-allocated to other areas by Shropshire Council.

But Councillor Barrow today said the redevelopment of the mill remained a top priority for the authority.

He said the site was an "internationally important" collection of historic listed buildings and a key catalyst in the regeneration of the town's northern corridor.

"When the developer came to us and said that they were unable to continue to fund the project because of the credit crunch we, together with English Heritage, stepped in to fund almost £1 million detailed design costs," said Mr Barrow.

"We have also said that we will fund the compulsory purchase of the Arriva bus depot and we are currently talking to them about carrying out their relocation sooner than originally planned, though at this stage we are unable to indicate when this may happen."

But Mr Barrow warned there were still major challenges to overcome.

He said: "We know that the project will require a large amount of public funding at a time when public spending is under pressure. We need to reappoint a developer partner and we are pursuing a number of possible sources of grant funding.

"Planning and listed building applications are due to be submitted this summer and, if funding can be found, work could start by the end of 2011 or early 2012."