'People are seeing change for the good in Market Drayton' - Councillors reflect on a busy and fruitful year for the town

Members of Market Drayton Town Council, Mayor Roy Aldcroft, Deputy Mayor Tim Manton and Councillor Ian Nellins have shared their delight with how events have gone and improvements have been made in the town.

In an end-of-year review, the councillors discussed funding, their biodiversity projects, work in the town, and events.

This year, 14 small grants, totalling £6,500, have been awarded to local organisations by the town council. Adding to the £1,500+ allocated to the successful Ginger and Spice Festival, a £1,000 grant was given to the town's museum roof fund to purchase 50 new roof tiles, £25,500 was given to Market Drayton Sports Association, and funding was provided for electrics at Greenfields Sports Ground to be upgraded.

Elsewhere, work continues to repair windows at the Cemetery Chapel while the town council has recently announced that it will continue to fund free travel on the Saturday Town Centre bus service.

Moreover, there have been several improvements to facilities in the town including play equipment in parks, a shelter at the skatepark, new fencing at the allotments and to toilet facilities.

The town also looked blooming great, with 114 hanging baskets, 29 mangers and 35 pole top displays that were all provided by the local authority.

Additionally, the town council introduced its Biodiversity Policy which has seen bat and bird boxes installed in public areas and the council working with Stoke Heath Prison to make and distribute the boxes, raising hundreds for a their chosen charity.

Reflecting on the year, Councillor Tim Manton believes Market Drayton is on the up.

He said: "There is a real sense and uprise in positivity from people in Market Drayton. People are seeing change for the good in Market Drayton. 

"They are seeing it now, with the market and other things, there are positive comments and I think people are positive about going forward. I haven't seen it as prevalent in my years of a councillor.

"If we can get things done like getting buildings occupied in the town, that would be fantastic. So I am very positive."

Residents have enjoyed and turned out in their numbers for events in the region this year, including the lighting of the beacon to commemorate D-Day, Remembrance Sunday, Market Drayton Carnival and the Festival of Lights, that included new Christmas lights purchased for this year. 

"I am very pleased with the year," added Mayor Roy Aldcroft. "We have a good team within the town council, not only our full-time staff but the gardeners providing the displays and administration that gets all of the festivals and events happening, and pushes us forward.

"We have a good team of councillors and that is important when you are taking things on. People tend to forget that it takes a big team to agree, push and we have that drive. At town council level we are moving forward in the right direction."

The councillors outlined their ambitions for next year, including a potential new bus service connecting Market Drayton with Whitchurch and Wellington.

The town council is also continuing to work with local policing teams and to tackle anti-social behaviour including vandalism of public toilets. 

Councillor Ian Nellins said: "I think even the anti-social behaviour has declined in the last year. We are still getting vandalism but not as bad.

"What we need to do is keep our foot on the pedal to maintain the optimism and dispel the negativity going on about the town. We have a decent night-time economy, we have the Festival Drayton Centre, we have a decent amount of restaurants - we could do with a bit more variety, but they are decent.

"The ability to do stuff exists, we just need people to use it, and for our own residents to use the town."