Pledge that taxes will not be increased to pay for new Shrewsbury park attraction

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said there was no prospect of a precept rise to pay for redevelopment work on a derelict greenhouse and council depot close to the entrance of the town park.

He made the comments as the issue was discussed at the town council's finance and general purposes committee meeting.

The council announced in December it was examining options for what to do with the site, with ideas put forward including a restaurant or cafe.

A full discussion on a report by finance officer Andy Watkin into the plans was postponed to give councillors more time to read his report, which had suggested capital and revenue limits are set for the scheme and a working party established to draw up a business plan.

One of the options in the report for raising the necessary cash to pay for the scheme was an increase in the council tax precept.

It said doubling the town council precept for one year could raise the £850,000 needed to finance the building programme.

But Councillor Mosley said this would not be considered, with it being more likely the site would be offered out to developers with a covenant imposed on the land dictating what it is to be used for. Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of the Conservative group, said he wanted more information on what type of facility is likely to be created.

Councillor Mosley said this was yet to be fully decided.

"There are a number of ways we might develop this site," he said. "One way is to offer it for development bids."

Councillor Mosley said the idea of the town council doing it themselves was another option, but not one he favoured.

He added: "There will be no increases in precept to fund something in the Quarry.

"There are a number of ways we might seek to facilitate this development rather than doing it ourselves."