Oswestry: Wind of change to blow through town

The wind of change is blowing in Oswestry. The nod has just been given for the market town's first major out-of-town shopping and entertainment development.

A Morrisons superstore, a multi-screen cinema and a series of restaurants and retail units and a new livestock market are to be built on the site of town's livestock market. But the scheme has not been without controversy, largely because of fears about the effect its creation would have on the town centre.

There are concerns that people will come to Oswestry and use the development without venturing into and spending their money in the town. But there are others that welcome the development as a sign that the town is moving forwards.

In the centre, there are just a few hints that Oswestry, like so many other towns across the country, has been affected by the recession. Cross Street starts with a small collection of empty shops. However, before you know it, you reach a bustling, lively town centre which sees traditional high street names mingling with an abundance of independents.

According to those that work there, Oswestry is a town which, in the wake of a painful economic downturn, is proudly holding its own. Indeed the green shoots of growth are there, say some.

One independent trader, Yossi Gliksman, has run a business in Oswestry for nearly three decades.

He said: "We really did feel the effect of the recession, probably at a slightly later stage, in 2009. There was a massive drop in footfall. We didn't give up but a lot did and the big boys suffered nationally. Woollies has gone, Littlewoods, Bon Marche. But the small shops have survived because they can adapt themselves."

Mr Gliksman and his wife run Upstairs Downstairs, a specialist cookshop in Leg Street, where they have been established for the last 27 years.

He said: "We put the shutters down, our heads down and we tried to ride the recession. Very quickly we learned that if you stand still you are not going to go forwards, and sometimes you can go backwards."

So they "took a risk", expanded and diversified by offering cookery workshops. "The response has been amazing," he said.

"Oswestry itself is holding its own. There are a few empty shops but not too many. No more than other towns. People say Oswes-try is dying. It hasn't died and it never will.

"My only worry now is the imminent development out of town."

Mr Gliksman, a former chairman of the town's chamber of commerce, says he would have preferred to have seen the development kept within the town centre, to keep current shoppers and attract more in.

Already doing a good job of attracting shoppers to the town is its indoor market hall, one of Oswestry's greatest assets, according to Mr Gliksman.

Powis Hall market has been such a success that it won recognition in a national awards scheme this year, and was named best council-run market. It is open on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays

"In my opinion the indoor market should be open every day," said Mr Gliksman. "That in itself will attract people to Oswestry and we will all benefit from it."

He also said he believes the town would become stronger if short stay on-street parking was introduced to allow people to pop into town do their shopping. And he also called for the town's two pedestrianised streets to be reopened to through traffic.

"In a market town you need to have open streets," he said.

"Traffic has got to go through it even if it is one way. We need the reopening of the pedestrianised, streets mainly Cross Street. It is a main artery in the town and they have just chopped it. We should also have on-street parking for 40 minutes so people can pop in and out.

"These two things should be done with immediate effect. I think as soon as we do that the picture will change dramatically."

Councillor Martin Bennett, who sits on the town and county councils, said the signs are there that things are beginning to pick up in Oswestry, largely because the town has always been able to move with the times.

"The first possible green shoots of growth are there but there is still a long way to go," he said, explaining that as well as the leisure development, new shops are opening in the town centre and estate agents are reporting that things are starting to pick up.

"The Smithfield development when it starts will mean that the actual livestock market itself will be ungraded and will be more viable. It will bring a five-screen cinema, a two-tier McDonald's and a Frankie and Benny's," said Councillor Bennett.

"The chances are we will be able to draw in the people that go to Shrewsbury, Chester or Wrexham for their leisure activity."

He added:?"Everywhere has been suffering in its own way and I'd like to say that there needs to be a bit of a debate about the high street. A lot of people who complain that the high street is dying do not use the high street for their shopping. If you want local shops then you have to shop local."

One of those little green shoots is Gordon Mills, who has just opened his very first shop in Beatrice Street.

He was a nurse for 22 years before taking early retirement and realising his dream of launching his own music shop, Outwhere Records.

"I have loved music since I was 13 and it has never stopped. It was a dream of mine to do something like this," he said.

"And best of all it's in my home town."

• Tomorrow: Find out why the bunting is flying high in Ellesmere