And the good news is . . . there are actually plenty of things to recommend about Market Drayton.

With numerous empty shops on its high street and a landmark hotel whose redeeming features are weeds growing up the wall, the Shropshire Star asked whether the historic market town had become the most unloved in the county.

Resident Sian Rushton, along with many other people who live and work here, disagreed. After all, this is their town.

Although Sian could barely argue against its ailing appearance at the moment, she remains passionate about Market Drayton and hopeful about its future. And certainly towns need people like Sian to instil pride and responsibility in their communities.

The way she conducts a tour of the town’s positives, she should perhaps be employed by the tourist board. But Sian is just an ordinary resident who cares. She attends council meetings and is on several pro-active committees committed to making the town a better place. This includes the Town Plan steering group which, incorporating the views of 1,350 households – nearly 25 per cent of the total households that responded to its recent survey – is now determining a series of prioritised developments and actions for the next five to 10 years.

Sian says there are plenty of reasons to come to Market Drayton, including the shops, the market, the nearby canalside and its leisure community, the museum, library and swimming baths, and the Festival Drayton Centre – an arts centre run by around 100 volunteers.

On a quiet Tuesday morning, the cafe here is bustling with trade.

Chairman of the centre, Geoff Vernon, says it attracts extra business from outside the town and visitors will often stay overnight during their stay.

“We have got Dana in September and people have booked from as far away as Belfast, Dublin and Leeds, so people are coming from all over to the town and while they are here they are using pubs and restaurants.

“We had Dominic Kirwan last September and as a result half the bed and breakfasts were full.”

And he says tickets have just gone on sale for Jonathan Ansell, the tenor, “and the first ten we have sold have been to people from outside of town,” says Geoff.

Next stop is to see Rob Gittins who opened his shop, Computer Co on Shropshire Street , just last year.

“Business have been good and we were established ourselves quickly – people are very loyal here – and we have been able to employ staff,” he says.

“We are here to support the town.”

Over the road, ladieswear shop Doll, which sells branded goods manufactured for the likes of Next and Marks & Spencer, opened 12 months ago.

Manageress Samantha Davies says: “There was a call for ladies dress shop. At the time, Peacocks was not here but the shop has done well.”

The street is certainly brightened up by its colourful window display.

Pride is something people have plenty of in Market Drayton. Sian indicates the pretty hanging baskets that brighten up the centre of town and she points to an empty shop has been painted by Creative Drayton with a picture of a penny farthing and next door where the premises’ windows have been painted with colourful scenes. Little touches that have appeared since the last visit have made a big difference. It certainly no longer looks unloved.

On Stafford Street, several empty shops have re-opened in recent months, one of them being The Rose lingerie store.

Owner Jill Perry says: “We have been here three months and things are going well. It’s a new business but already we have got returning customers.”

Jill says July has been her best month to date. Not even halfway through and already her takings have eclipsed those forecasted for the entire month .

Good news, it seems, is infectious. Just next door Matthew Barrow is opening Black Rhino tattoo studio. He is committed to Market Drayton having ploughed £3,000 of his own money into the business.

“I’m not even open yet and people are asking about using us,” he says. He applauds the council’s initiative for a reduced rates initiative in attracting new businesses and says his landlord is “brilliant”.

Up the road on High Street, another premises is coming back to life as Blooming Marvellous, a florist shop. Inside people with paint rollers are sprucing up the premises before opening day.

“We had a shop at Tern Hill but we wanted to come into town,” says owner Sarah North.

She will be one of number of businesses being supplied by a new wholesaler that has just moved into the town. Baan Flowers is run by David North who says the operation is bringing people to town from as far as field as Nantwich, Macclesfield, Welshpool, Montgomery as well as Shropshire.

Next, Sian Rushton leads the way to the impressive new £1.6m Joules Brewery, built last October to the rear of the Red Lion pub at the top of Phoenix Bank at the end of High Street.

At a time when many pubs are struggling, the Red Lion and the Joules brewery are thriving.

Landlord Kevin Gladas says: “The brewery is an asset to the town – we are doing brewery trips four times a week and it brings people into the town.

“And the beer is being distributed to local pubs and those further afield – there are a lot of pubs having it.”

Phil Britton, sales and commercial manager, says: “We have gone from nothing to producing 60 barrels a week – and the whole community has embraced the brewery.

“Since October we have had 2,000 people on our brewery tours, bringing in coach loads of people from all over – from Leek, Wrexham and Shrewsbury.

“We are in Market Drayton and we are proud to be from Market Drayton. We are only going to get bigger. We are thinking long-term. The brewery cost £1.6m and the investment is for the town and the brewery.

“Market Drayton is not a dying town.”

By now Sian Rushton is smiling. She says: “Some people think there is nothing here to be positive about, and it’s taken more than two hours to visit new businesses that have recently opened.”

l Add your views to the Market Drayton debate. E-mail starfeatures@shropshirestar.co.uk, or comment at www.shropshirestar.com