Showdown over hall facelift

Thursday 19th February 2009, 1:07PM GMT.

Market Drayton Campaigners calling for a £600,000 facelift of a north Shropshire market hall to be abandoned have been promised a showdown with leading councillors.

Traders who organised a petition against the investment in Market Drayton Market Hall will be able to air their views when North Shropshire District Council’s ruling cabinet meets on March 12.

The decision was taken by councillors at a full meeting of the district council held last night.

It comes after a petition started in December by town centre shopkeepers Sue Brisker, of Buttercross Tearooms, and Debbie Deppner, of Nothing to Wear dress agency, attracted 1,075 signatures.

It calls on the district council to ditch its work on the building and plough the cash into a regeneration bonanza for Stafford Street, High Street, Queen Street and Shropshire Street instead.

It said: “We feel enough money has already been spent on the area around the town hall, and with the new development nearing completion of yet more shops, there is a feeling the town centre is being built around the town hall.”

Councillors referred the petition to cabinet members because of NSDC rules which say consideration must be given to petitions signed by at least 10 residents.

View more: North Shropshire news.