26/04/2012 - Permalink

East Oswestry walking and cycling bonanza

Related topics: Community

Over £500,000 worth of improvements for walking and cycling in east Oswestry were announced by Shropshire Council today (Thursday 26 April 2012).

Some of the funding has already been used to complete a footpath link from Ascot Road to Harlech Road, and other projects in the pipeline include:

  • Improvements to Wilfred Owen Green to connect Coney Green to the Medical Centre
  • A stepped path on Shelf Bank linking Queen Elizabeth Drive and the Wilfred Owen Green, and improvements between Shelf Bank and Unicorn Road
  • A new path expected along the route of the disused railway line from Coney Green to Maesbury Road, creating a pedestrian/cycle link from the Industrial Estate to the town centre
  • A direct footpath link between east Oswestry and the new leisure centre
  • Minor improvements to the Watts Dyke path
  • An improved route along Whittington Road, and improved refuge crossing at A5 junction
  • Proposals for improvements for walking through Henley Wood 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for transport planning, said:

“These schemes are great and I’m pleased that we can now get them completed.”

Keith Barrow, Shropshire Council’s leader and local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry South, said:

“This money will go a long way towards improving walking and cycling routes in the town, making it much easier for local people to get around.”

Martin Bennett, a local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry East, said:

“I am really pleased that, at a time when public funding is so tight, we have been able to get some money from central government to help with these schemes.  Some of the projects are ones that I have lobbied for, and to be able to say ‘yes we can’, rather than the more usual ‘sorry there is no cash to do this’, is great.”

Bill Benyon, a local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry East, said:

“I walk my dog in some of the areas, and having spoken to my fellow walkers I am sure these projects will be very popular.” 

Vince Hunt, local Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry West, said:

“I am delighted that this money is available to make projects happen that have such benefit to communities in Oswestry.  Well done all involved.”