‘Time to act’: Morrisons told to act over Oswestry Smithfield site
A supermarket was today challenged to “get its game together” and act over derelict development land in a market town.
The Smithfield site on Shrewsbury Road was previously earmarked for a Morrisons supermarket.
A cinema, Frankie and Benny’s restaurant and McDonald’s were also planned as part of a £45 million project.
But the development collapsed when various companies pulled out in 2015.
In October Morrisons insisted the land, which has sat overgrown and disused, was still part of its plans.
Oswestry Town Council has continued to press Morrisons bosses for answers, but to no avail.
Today county councillor Paul Milner declared: “The time for talking is over.
He said the supermarket, which purchased the lease on the land for £4m, owes it to the people of Oswestry to act swiftly.
He said: “This is simply not fair on the people of Oswestry, they need answers and need to know what is going on.
"It has been almost four years now, and Morrisons need to get their game together and act.
"It has been an eyesore and the first thing people see when they come into the town, and something needs to be done as soon as possible. There needs to be clarity on this."
Oswestry’s chair of the chamber of commerce Mark Derham said: “I feel people’s frustration because that land could create employment and only be a positive thing for the town.
"I would encourage more dialogue certainly between Morrisons and the town council, or anyone else involved, just to see some progress being made.
“Every time we get some news and something seems to be happening, it is hit by a problem or comes to nothing.”
Morrisons stated in October it was working towards the appointment of a development partner to promote the re-development of the site.
Oswestry Town Council is still waiting for a reply to its latest the request for information, and clerk David Preston insisted it will continue to push for answers.
With £9 million being spent on the Innovation Park in the town, and other projects on the horizon across Oswestry, Councillor Milner believes now is the perfect time for Morrison's to come out and say exactly what the future holds for the Shrewsbury Road site.
He added: "We get 28 million people driving past Oswestry each year and one of the first things they seen is this over grown site.
"Now the Innovation Park is being given the £9 million and other projects, it is the right time for an answer for the people of Oswestry."
Morrisons was not available for comment.
