Spending spree set to help improve Market Drayton

The council is set to invest £91,800 in the toilets and £70,250 in the town's recreation grounds.

It forms part of the authority's proposed budget, which is set to be improved at a meeting of the full council tomorrow.

The budget, which was set at £456,716, for 2016-27, is set to rise to £546,191 over the forthcoming year.

The council is not expected to raise its precept it charges householders despite the budget increase.

It has set aside £30,000 for play equipment and property maintenance at its recreation grounds, and £40,000 for a new toilet block.

As part of the proposed budget, £19,500 will be spent on street lighting, £5,750 on amenity areas, £2,061 on CCTV running costs and £5,700 for the In Bloom committee.

Councillors also agreed to allocate £27,930 on the cemetery, £15,000 on Christmas lighting, £112,500 on general services an facilities, and £37,600 on administration accommodation.

Councillor David Minnery, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "Four years ago we promised to make the council more efficient and to reduce the burden on the local tax payer.

"Over the past four years we have succeeded in doing this so we are now in a position where we can use some of that saving to restore an essential public service without having to ask the people of Market Drayton for more money."

The town council is looking to install a new standalone toilet block, which will be situated adjacent to the town hall.

The toilets, in Frogmore Road, were closed in August 2015 when a fire in the disabled toilet spread and caused damage to the walls, light fixtures and fittings.

It is also proposed to change the access arrangements and making some internal improvements to the Newport Road toilets which have become a target of vandals.

Work has also started on a new £50,000 play area in the town.

Councillors are funding the project to transform the run down play area at Longlands Recreation Area.

The new equipment will include adventure play areas and assault courses.

Meanwhile, in December residents vented their anger about how poor the Christmas lights were in the town centre.

People called for more to be done to promote the town during the festive season.

Following the criticism, Councillor Minnery said the town will look at upgrading the lights this year.

Meanwhile, Councillor Minnery said advanced talks are taking place about relocating the customer service point into the town hall.

Shropshire Council in a building in Cheshire Street.

Councillor Minnery said it would help the town council and unitary authority cut costs.