Oswestry Masterplan could see station overhauled and public spaces revived

The refurbishment of historic buildings, a rethink of the road network and an overhaul of public transport are just some of the ideas put forward in an early draft of the Oswestry Masterplan.

The railway station, indoor market and former B-Wise and Regal buildings have been identified for potential regeneration schemes, which could include new workspaces, residential accommodation, and community and leisure uses.

The bus station could be scrapped, some one-way streets opened to two-way traffic, and public spaces in the town centre revived.

Aspirations to reopen the rail line to Gobowen are also taken into consideration in the emerging plan, and those behind it say their proposals will “future-proof” this long-term goal.

Virtual workshops

Still in its very formative stages, the masterplan will now be worked through with stakeholders at virtual workshops to be held next month, to evaluate and flesh out the proposed schemes. Members of the public will get to have their say before any plans are solidified – and then will come the challenge of how to fund them.

The masterplan has been drawn up by urban planning specialists Allies and Morrison for the Future Oswestry Group (FOG), made up of Shropshire Council, the town council and Oswestry Business Improvement District (BID).

Shropshire Council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for regeneration, Councillor Steve Charmley, said the consultants had picked out all the areas that “anyone in Oswestry” would agree need attention.

He said: “I think most people in the town would say the station building needs some investment, needs some thought into how it operates going forward.

“It’s got to be 10 or 12 years since it last had investment and it certainly needs some more investment and re-purposing in some way. It’s an important building doing nothing other than rotting away.

“I would like to see it become a centre for that part of town and bring people to that area more.”

Transport

A re-worked station could include office space, public toilets and visitor information, which would support plans for a new public transport hub nearby to replace the bus station. As well as bus stops, the hub would provide coach and taxi drop-off areas and cycle facilities.

The station building itself would be renovated in such a way that it could be used once more as a railway station, in the event that the line to Gobowen is eventually reopened.

Councillor Charmley said: “It’s a difficult one because there is a very busy bypass in the way. We could probably put a bridge over it or a tunnel underneath, but that’s going to take a lot of money.

“It’s not going to happen immediately, it’s a long-term plan, and it’s got to be sustainable. At the moment I don’t see it, but with everyone getting behind it that may change going forward.

“In the meantime we can look at bus routes to make sure that connectivity is there.”

Councillor Charmley said transport and movement would be a key consideration in the masterplan, which also proposes removing the one-way restrictions from Oswald Road, Beatrice Street and King Street and improving cycle routes.

Cycle infrastructure

He said: “How we navigate around the town is a big part of it.

“Cycle lanes – I’m not entirely wedded to that, we are the highest town in Shropshire geographically and have an undulating landscape – but I’m open to be convinced if it adds something to the town centre.

“How traffic flows around the town is going to be key. Do we need to take more traffic out of the town centre and put it around the periphery?

“Maybe not re-routing the traffic but simplifying the road layout or the one-way system could be a way forward.

“Oswestry gets clogged up with vehicles at certain points and there are some small changes that could improve the flow of traffic.

“It’s about how we make it more accessible for people, how we get people to stay and spend their money with the businesses in the town centre.”

Market building

Meanwhile the indoor market building could also be in line for a huge revamp, subject to a new location being found for the traders.

Councillor Charmley said: “I have seen a picture of the old market hall and that was a stunning building. The current building is pretty ugly and it doesn’t do a lot for the town.

“There could be some changes – a hotel or residential with some retail underneath – the options are endless.

“The town council would potentially have to find a new home for the market traders.”

The B-Wise and Regal buildings could be a possible new site for the market, or could alternatively be developed to include business, food and drink and community use.

Some projects could come to fruition sooner than others, and the final version of the masterplan will set out a series of short, medium and long-term schemes.

Councillor Charmley said one “quick win” could be converting Festival Square car park into a public seating area, embracing European ‘cafe culture’.

Long term

Longer-term projects include the redevelopment of the former Morrisons supermarket site, which the planning consultants have suggested could be utilised for housing.

It comes at a pivotal time for Oswestry, with plans for the Innovation Park at Mile End being drawn up, the FOG undertaking a review of the town’s bus services, and the recent announcement of High Street Heritage Action Zone funding available for town centre business owners to make improvements to their shop fronts.

Councillor Charmley added: “This is the start of the process – there is a lot of work to be done.

“The process has been similar to the Big Town Plan in Shrewsbury.

“It is very much the skeleton, and we put the meat on the bone afterwards.

“We hope most of the proposals can be worked up into a scheme that evolves from the page and becomes something which is an asset to the town and improves where we all live.”