Mayor calls for help to protect the Mere in Ellesmere

Mayor of Ellesmere Ian Ward has called on residents and visitors to support Ellesmere Town Council's efforts to protect the town's Swan Hill Depot site – which lies close to the Mere – before the end of the week.

The council has made an Asset of Community Value nomination for the site and anyone who wants to support the bid needs to do so by Friday.

Councillor Ward said: "Shropshire Council has to make a decision within eight weeks of the application which is in February so we are asking people to submit their opinions as soon as possible.

"We have asked people to do this by Friday so they make sure they get them in."

He added: "It is really important that people put forward their views – it is essential in terms of ensuring that we can make sure Cremorne Gardens and The Mere can be used for community activities."

If the Asset of Community Value application is approved the council said the site will be protected from development and will ensure it can be used for community events.

Councillor Ward said that the site was a key access point for The Mere and Cremorne Gardens and that it provided an area for parking and storage during events.

He added: "It is increasingly being used for different things and when there are big events on Swan Hill it is key for parking and for stallholders.

"People come from far and wide to attend the events.

"If we haven't got the space to provide the back-up facilities in terms of parking, there is no where else in the vicinity that we can use."

Councillor Ward said : "It is also encroaching development on the edge of The Mere that we are trying to resist.

"The Swan Hill site was excluded from the SAMDev plan for Shropshire development – and we appreciate that it is a brownfield site but it is an area of importance for our community.

"This is because of its proximity to The Mere but also its use in the community."

Before the Asset of Community Value application was launched, a survey was held online to see how many people would be in support of the idea.

A total of 48 people said they would support the bid and many said it would help the community save the town from development.

Anyone who wants to make a statement of support on the bid should send it to Shropshire Council or email communityright@shropshire.gov.uk