Oswestry Town Council looks set to cash in on millions of pounds if plans for a major development on the outskirts of the town go ahead.The cash potentially could be ploughed into enhancing facilities and services in the town. Developers at Liberty Mercian Ltd are looking to buy part of the livestock market site in Shrewsbury Road, owned by the town council.
Traders want to see the money from any sale of the land invested in the town centre.
Such a deal would further enhance the town council’s position as one of the richest in the country.
The ambitious proposals for the site include a five-screen multiplex cinema, a supermarket, three restaurants, non-food retail units, offices, parking for 868 cars, landscaping and improved transport links to the town centre.
Up to 1,000 jobs could be created by the £56 million plans to transform the site into a retail, business and leisure park.
But town centre traders are keen to see money made from the possible sale of part of the land ploughed back into the town centre, as they fear an out of town development would cripple their businesses.
However, Dave Preston, of Oswestry Town Council, said it was “early days” and too soon to say what they would do with the money.
He added: “We will be asking for feedback from the public on what enhancement they would want to see in the town to complement the new development.”
Traders in the town today urged the town council to think carefully on how it would use the money from the sale of the land if Liberty Mercian Ltd got planning permission and purchased part of the site.
Chairman of Oswestry Chamber of Commerce, Yossi Gliksman, who also runs Upstairs Downstairs in Leg Street, and who is against the development, said any money that could be made from the sale of the land should be ploughed into the town centre.
He added: “Local businesses in the town would like to see the money re-invested into the centre. Extra care will have to be taken by the town council to ensure the money isn’t invested just to make the town look pretty. The money should be used to turn the town into a buzzing shopping area.”
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