Mayor in plea for action over major Oswestry developments
The mayor of Oswestry is calling on sites for two major developments in the town to move forward.
Plans were previously in place for a retail park with a supermarket, cinema and restaurants on the former Smithfield Site, however it has stood derelict for many years after plans were shelved.
Morrisons has a lease on the site, however it became an eyesore until the town council demanded action was taken by the supermarket chain, and it was tidied up this year.
Also plans have been long running for an Innovation Park at the town's Mile End roundabout, which could bring around 1,000 jobs.
Mayor Vince Hunt is hoping this is the year that things kick into action with both developments.
He said: "It goes without saying that we all want something to happen on both sides.
"We've had a little bit of movement this year and dialogue with Morrisons to get them to do something about the site.
"We have been in further contact and we would like to hope something happens next year.
"The Innovation Park is the same really, we hope something happens because it is massive for Oswestry and could bring thousands of jobs.
"It is just we are hopeful on both counts for the next year."
Earlier this year councillor Steve Charmley said funding was available for the proposed Innovation Park.
The site, located just off the town’s Mile End roundabout, has been a vacant agricultural plot for some years.
Earlier this year he said: “This is one of the key sites in the area that we have to play with and new council leader Peter Nutting has already stressed the importance of investing in business parks around the county’s market towns.”
He said the Innovation Park could create about 1,500 jobs for the area, adding: “There is some funding available – I think it’s about £7 million across the Marches LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) areas and the Innovation Park is one of the projects bidding to access that."
There is also a planning application for 600 homes on Shrewsbury Road, which would need jobs creating for people moving into the homes.
Nobody from Morrisons was available for comment.
