Leisure complex plan for Oswestry railway buildings
Friday 8th October 2010, 8:00PM BST.
One of Oswestry’s historic buildings is to be transformed into a £2 million leisure and entertainment complex, creating 100 new jobs in what the developer calls an “exciting2 project.
The former railway buildings off the Gobowen Road have been bought by hotelier, Stephanie Booth.
Workers will move onto the site, which once housed the Mclarens antiques and interiors centre and Loco restaurant, next week.
The first phase of the complex, a massive indoor play centre, cafe and wine bar, could be up and running by early next year.
The Fantastic Fun House will be one of a chain of children’s play centres that will be set up in the region.
Mrs Booth and her husband David, own and run half a dozen hotels across the north Wales border including the Bryn Howell, Wild Pheasant and Chain Bridge in Llangollen.
Railway enthusiasts welcomed news of the development saying it would rescue part of Oswestry’s heritage.
The entrepreneur said her passion for industrial heritage was part of the reason for buying the buildings.
“Work starts next week and, if all goes well, the first phase could be open by late January,” Mrs Booth said.
“It will mean 100 jobs for Oswestry and something really exciting for the town.”
“I am keen to work with the railway project to keep the link with the buildings’ fascinating railway heritage.”
Cambrian Heritage Railways group chairman, Nigel Davies, said:”It can only be good for the railway and for the town in general.”
The building adjoins the new Primary Care Centre.
Most Commented
- Shropshire Council will face £8m redundancy bill
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
well done stephanie its so nice to see a local who is prepared to support her area,a much needed project in my opinion good luck
Report abuse
It does not surprise me that both Shrewsbury and Telford have been left out: They are clone towns. What was once unique and really magnificent about both historical towns has been rendered boring, flat and ‘like everywhere else’ by either the high street of chain shops or the out of town retail complexes: there are hundreds of identical places in Britain.
More surprising is the omission of Oswestry. It has a very large number of independent shops and local traders with a long history. Its high street is still pretty different with very few chain shops, mostly tucked in at the end. Is there a reason for this omission? Would admitting that Oswestry has been spared the Clone treatment amount to supporting the majority of residents in this town that say no to a supermarket we do not need and which will change the face of our special town forever?
Report abuse