Cleobury Mortimer benefits from funding boost

The centre of a Shropshire market town has been enhanced with funding from Shropshire Council and Cleobury Mortimer Parish Council.

Cleobury Mortimer’s historic core project has now been completed. The work has been carried out to make the centre more attractive and create a welcoming public open space for events, as well as for people to meet.

The project, led by the parish council and supported by Shropshire Council, builds upon previous improvements undertaken in the town, linking the market hall, the church entrance and the memorial gardens.  More than £40,000 has been spent improving the paths, and on resurfacing, paving, removable railings to open the area up for events, public art and seating.

The project has been made possible with:

• £6,500 funding from Shropshire Council’s Market Towns Revitalisation Programme (MTRP).
• A contribution of around £16,000 for the project was provided after Shropshire Council highways funding for repairing pathways was identified through local commissioning work. Local commissioning involves Shropshire Council and its partners looking at ways to make the most of money and resources in each area.
• More than £12,000 from the parish council.
• More than £7,000 from Cleobury and Rural Local Joint Committee (LJC).

The new historic core will support a range of events including outdoor concerts, specialist markets such as the ‘Tastes of Cleobury Country’, and civic ceremonies, in addition to providing a much needed ‘town square’ public meeting space.

Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for leisure, libraries and culture, Shropshire Councillor for Cleobury Mortimer, and chair of Cleobury and Rural LJC, said:

“This is an imaginative development at the town’s heart, providing an attractive place for events to take place, which is convenient for both organisers and visitors, and a great space for people to meet.
“This is another asset for the community; injecting more vitality into the town. I’d urge people to come and take a look.”

The chair of Cleobury Mortimer Parish Council, said:

“This work enhances the centre of the town, providing community groups with the surroundings and space to work together to hold events, thus ensuring the Parish Council’s vision of community engagement and partnerships will continue to grow.”

Madge Shineton, Shropshire Councillor for Cleobury Mortimer, added:

“The finished job has surpassed my expectations, and will certainly be well used by different groups from in and around the area.”

Further information

The MTRP was launched in September 2010 with a capital budget of £3.5million, which has now been shared across Shropshire.

LJCs – Local councillors from Shropshire Council and all of the parish and town councils in the local area have voting rights when it comes to making decisions. Local people are able to discuss issues, raise concerns, ask questions about local services and call service providers to account. Other public organisations such as the police, health service, and fire and rescue service, can also be invited to the meetings to provide information.

Each LJC is supported by a community action officer from the community action team and a committee officer. The community action officers help to maximise local engagement in the work of the Local Joint Committee, support members of the committee to bring forward matters of interest or concern, and help to ensure that strong links are made with community-based groups, organisations and activities.