Oswestry meeting to hear how £650,000 may be spent

People in Oswestry are being invited to a special event next week to hear about the projects that are being considered for a share of £650,000 of funding.

The funding has been awarded to Oswestry under Shropshire Council’s Market Towns Revitalisation Programme (MTRP) and is available to spend on capital projects that will provide an immediate boost to the town.

The open evening is being held at Walford and North Shropshire College, Shrewsbury Road, Oswestry on Thursday 30 June 2011 at 6.30pm, and all local residents can attend.

The purpose of the event is to allow people to hear presentations from the representatives of the projects that have been shortlisted by Oswestry’s Shropshire Councillors to potentially receive funding.  The representatives will explain why their projects will bring economic benefit to the town and how they reflect the priorities for action identified by councillors and local people.

Following the presentations, Shropshire Councillors will recommend which of the projects will go forward to the MTRP programme board for final consideration.

Councillor John Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member responsible for market towns, said:

“This funding will provide a real boost to the town, and this will be a great chance for local people to hear some of the proposals for how it might be spent.”

Vince Hunt, Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry West and Keith Barrow, Shropshire Councillor for Oswestry South, said:

“We’re very pleased that Shropshire Council has made this money available to help Oswestry fund some schemes that will have a very real benefit to the residents.  As local Shropshire Councillors it has been a real pleasure to be involved with this, talking at length to town residents, business people and fellow councillors.  It has given us a valuable insight into the aspirations and passions of all the people who have engaged with this process. “

Oswestry’s Shropshire Councillors and town councillors will be joined at the meeting by officers from Shropshire Council, who will provide more information about the Market Towns Revitalisation Programme.

For more information about the meeting and the MTRP, contact Kate Garner, community action manager, Shropshire Council on 01691 677318 or email kate.garner@shropshire.gov.uk.