Team unveiled to promote Shrewsbury

Team Shrewsbury will tackle issues faced by people living and working in the area, including helping the vulnerable to find help and promoting the town as a nice place to be.

It has received a £20,000 grant in the Government's Our Place scheme to spend on promoting the town.

The partnership includes representatives of several organisations in the town, including Shrewsbury Town Council, Shropshire Council, West Mercia Police and Shropshire Fire & Rescue service.

Also on board are Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID), Shrewsbury Shopping Centres, Safer Shrewsbury and Shrewsbury Street Pastors.

Several other organisations including The Big Busk and The Ark are involved to ensure people who are genuinely vulnerable are supported to find appropriate help.

Helen Ball, clerk of Shrewsbury Town Council, said: "We have long-since advocated a 'Team Shrewsbury' approach to working with our partners and we have collectively seen many successes this year, including being crowned Britain in Bloom Champion of Champions and the Most Courteous Town in the UK.

"This is an opportunity to not only promote the great aspects of our town, but also to address any issues by working together.

"Each agency brings to the table a range of expertise and experiences that can assist in resolving issues more effectively than any go-it-alone approach."

She added: "It's about equipping and empowering local people to identify and solve local problems, ultimately making Shrewsbury a better place to live, work and play."

Superintendent James Tozer, of West Mercia Police, said: "Shrewsbury is a great town and, like the county, is a generally low crime and disorder area, but there are always things that can be improved."

He said: "The dynamic tasking and sharing of priorities and information is key to making this work. We are working with departments across West Mercia to develop these new ways of working so we can use them in other places."

Claire Wild, Shropshire Council's portfolio holder for environmental maintenance said: "I am delighted to support Team Shrewsbury. It builds on the work Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council have been doing for the last five years.

"By working closely with all parties who have a vested interest in making Shrewsbury a great place to live, work or visit, without duplication of effort we can make services more efficient and more responsive to Shropshire's needs."