Oswestry could see thousands of pounds worth of investment with ambitious projects being considered for a share of more than £650,000 funding. Schemes include revamping the showground.

Also included are improving Oswestry Rugby Club and refurbishing the town’s Powis Hall indoor market.

Representatives from schemes made their case to Shropshire councillors last night for a share of the funding from Shropshire Council’s Market Towns Revitalisation Programme.

The biggest bid for funds came from Oswestry and District Agricultural Society which called for £139,172 to help it with £149,172 plans to revamp the town’s Park Hall showground.

Oswestry Rugby Club asked for £24,500 for a £31,000 improvement plan to facilities. Oswestry Town Council called for £25,000 to help with refurbishing the market hall estimated to cost £145,000.

There was also a bid to fund half of a £100,000 project to create technology which would give people information about Oswestry through their mobiles.

The area could also become the headquarters for collection of industrial monorails. The Dyffryn Tanat and Region Development Trust is bidding for £37,000 to help with its £92,500 plan to bring what officials say could become a unique collection to Oswestry that could bring worldwide interest.

A Bed and Breakfast grant scheme to encourage more accommodation in the town asked for £75,000.

Shropshire Council also requested £10,500 to boost a £22,500 plan to bring clear sign posting into Oswestry.

Councillors Martin Bennett, Keith Barrow, Vince Hunt and Bill Benyon recommended all proposals go through to the next round of the funding process.

Phil Jones, chairman of the agricultural society, said: “Park Hall is a fantastic site and it is a fantastic opportunity to boost Oswestry’s economy.”

David Preston, Oswestry Town Council clerk, spoke on behalf of the Powis Hall project, saying “it is vitally important to invest in it”.