Eyesore Oswestry street will finally be spruced up

Oswestry's Cross Street has been blighted by empty shops, leading to a campaign by the town council to encourage the landlords of the empty buildings, many of whom live away from the area, to take action.

Now the campaign is finally paying off as one of the most run-down shops, which had a tree growing through its roof and damp in the main showroom, is being repaired with a view to being re-let later this year.

Town mayor Councillor Peter Cherrington said he was pleased to see progress being made on the former Be-Wise building, which was last used as a shop in 2004.

He said: "The tree in the roof which was growing in the middle of the shop has gone and they've got machines in to dry out the whole place. Now we're looking towards starting work inside the shop. We'll see how it goes.

"It's a massive building in the centre of the town. It's two storeys and a cellar. It's almost difficult to remember back to 2004 when it was open.

"We're looking forward to some progress in the very near future, and myself and the town clerk are attending a meeting with the developers next week."

Over the past two years the mayors of Oswestry have written to the absentee landlords urging them to keep their buildings in a good state of repair.

Councillor Cherrington said the campaign is finally bearing fruit with the renovation work on the Be-Wise shop, and two new shops due to open within the next few weeks.

Artists' boutique shop Athena's Artisans is due to open on July 1, and the town's former Majestic Cinema, which has an entrance on to Cross Street, will be opening as The Factory Shop in August.

"We're looking forward to that. It's development and employment for Oswestry, which is only a good thing," Councillor Cherrington said.

"We've all been through it financially but Oswestry is a town that bounces back very quickly. We're not so quick on the house prices to pick up, not like London, but we're very quick on other things. Once we see something we go for it.

"At the end of the day, Oswestry is a market town and we mustn't forget that. We don't want to do anything to change that. The town runs itself. We're looking forward to a progressive year."