Car park battle cost Oswestry £30,000

Oswestry Town Council had to spend £30,000 on specialist legal advice defending its main car park from developers, it was revealed today.

The council which owns almost all of the Central Car Park land was forced to take specialist legal advice after a planning application was submitted to turn the site into a superstore and cinema complex.

After months of debate Shropshire Council refused planning permission for the application.

But town clerk David Preston will tell councillors tonight that the cost of protecting the car park ran into tens of thousands of pounds.

In a report to the finance and general purposes committee, Mr Preston says the council will have to decide how to fund the sum and whether it should be put onto the council precept - the money that each town householder has to pay for the town council services.

He says: "During the past year the council faced significant legal challenge from a developer over its decision not to develop the Central Car Park for retail and associated purposes.

"The cost of protecting its position, in terms of Freedom of Information, environmental regulation and judicial review threats, has amounted to some £30,000 to date.

"This was expenditure that was not budgeted."

In a budget report also being debated tonight councillors have been recommended to increase the precept by four per cent, to £58.90 a year for band D tax payers.

But Mr Preston is now asking councillors to consider whether the ongoing legal costs in respect of the Central Car Park should be considered as additions to the precept. If agreed this would make the yearly amount even more.