Working with businesses in Oswestry

Shropshire Council and Oswestry Town Council recently held a business employment seminar looking at a range of Oswestry issues and initiatives, that included the impact of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, the impressive range of Shropshire Council economic development schemes operating to assist the economy of Oswestry, and the recent Smithfield planning decision in Oswestry that can lead to a capital windfall for the town. 

As a result the two councils have agreed to establish an economic and regeneration partnership on a formal basis, looking at networking, information provision, liaison and consultation. 

As a first step a World Café event is to be organised with the business sector of the town and also the new Chamber of Commerce, looking to establish a shared vision with milestones that can influence the strategies of both councils and link with the voice of the business sector. 

Shropshire Council has also agreed to invest some resources looking at opportunities to benefit the local economy of the town centre.  This will include a street-by-street environmental audit and the building up a demographic profile of the retail and commercial core of the town, to bring forward some quick wins for the town centre. 

Other items in the initial agreement include building on the highly successful Shropshire Council business clinics and start-up workshops held in Oswestry, widening the scope to include market traders and the improved provision of facilities in the library for the ever popular Oswestry Work Club.  The town council has also been offered a seat on the Destination Development Partnership for tourism strategic development of Oswestry and north Shropshire. 

Shropshire Council has also confirmed it will continue to support the Cambrian Heritage Railway in any way it can. 

Shropshire Council Leader, Keith Barrow, said that the meeting had been extremely productive: 

“All local councillors are committed and share a genuine passion and enthusiasm for our town.  There are so many good things that are happening and we have many opportunities to work together with local business and tourism providers.  Oswestry is in a good place with activities, energy and enthusiasm that are the envy of other market towns.” 

Councillor Cynthia Hawksley, Oswestry town mayor, welcomed the business seminar: 

“We are delighted at the shared agenda that has been agreed.  The town council does much for the life of the town and within this partnership agenda we see many new opportunities.  We look forward to the World Café event that Shropshire Council has agreed to promote with us as a first step, and this will be an occasion for the new Chamber to bring forward its ideas and aspirations.”