Bayston Hill to debate becoming a town

Shropshire could get a new town under new plans for one of the county's biggest villages near Shrewsbury.

Bayston Hill is being lined up for the change in status, which would involve the creation of a town council and the appointment of a mayor and deputy mayor. The issue is to be discussed by Bayston Hill Parish Council on March 5, with councillors to debate whether the change should go ahead.

Parish council chairman James Moraghen said: "It has been mooted before and at this meeting we will decide one way or the other.

"It has been discussed before and people have proposed whether there is an advantage to do it or not as we are quite a large parish in terms of population."

He said there were about 5,500 people in Bayston Hill, with people in the area keen to maintain its separate identity from Shrewsbury and other surrounding areas.

But Mr Moraghen added that he would be remaining neutral on the issue ahead of the planned debate.

"Bayston Hill is proud to be Bayston Hill. As chairman, I have to keep an open mind because people have their own ideas," he said.

"People have different ideas and some people like the idea of being a village."

One resident who said she would oppose the change is Sarah Hindson, of Lyth Wood Road.

Miss Hindson, 26, said: "If we become a town on paper, people may think they can build around us.

"Most people don't want us to get bigger. Bigger doesn't mean better."

She added that she feared making Bayston Hill a town would lead to greater development and end up in the area losing its separate identity to Shrewsbury.

The parish council meeting will be held at Bayston Hill Memorial Hall at 7.30pm.