Star comment: Balance of future and past
Shrewsbury is not a town with a reputation for rushing things when it comes to important planning issues.
Indeed, it was lampooned as “Standing Stillbury” in a book by a local author. Telford, in contrast, was “Concrete Hardening”.
In recent times, the Flax Mill apart, there have been two vexed questions in the planning councillors’ in-tray.
The closed Shrewsbury jail presents a set of special problems but also a glorious opportunity to do something really imaginative with the unusual, historic, and landmark building. The very worst outcome would have been nobody coming up with any ideas at all and the building being left to decay slowly and gently.
So let us give a pat on the back to developer Trevor Osborne who came up with a scheme to revive the site. The council planning officers were content. But residents and councillors were worried about issues such as parking, and permission was refused.
It was a decision which created the danger of a stalemate. Happily some hard work and hard thinking has been done to reach what can be hailed as a triumphant conclusion. Planning permission has now been given for a revised scheme which seems to have satisfied all parties. There is more to be done before a happy ending is ensured, but it does seem that one of those endless planning sagas has been avoided.
Across town there was another big decision involving another landmark and historic site – Copthorne Barracks, for many generations a home for the Army in this traditional garrison town.
The proposal here is for 228 homes and demolition of buildings. Again, there has been a level of controversy and opposition. For those who had a spell in Shrewsbury prison their memories are unlikely to have been pleasant, but when it comes to the barracks we are talking about King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and Light Infantry veterans who have expressed affection for the place and see the proposals as wiping out tradition and local military history.
They would like the parade ground and officers’ mess retained. Under the scheme the publicly-visible entrance, keep and boundary walls will be kept.
Outline permission has been given, but there remains the chance to explore ways to keep some of the historic elements as signposts and symbols for future generations as to the former importance of the barracks in Shrewsbury’s story.
As always, it’s a balance – cherish the past, but build a future.
