Flax Mill revamp hope to boost Shrewsbury tourism
Saturday 26th November 2011, 10:59AM GMT.
A potential multi-million pound redevelopment of Shrewsbury’s historic Flax Mill could provide a major boost to the town’s tourism industry, it has been claimed.
A new bid for funding for the project is due to be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund by partners Shropshire Council, English Heritage and the Friends of the Flaxmill Maltings next week.
It will help transform the Grade One listed site in Ditherington into a multi-use development featuring new shops, homes and offices and comes after a failed attempt to secure £12.7 million from the HLF earlier this year.
Councillor Andrew Bannerman said he hoped the new bid would turn out to be a success, with money being provided to help exploit the potential of the Flax Mill, which was built in 1796 and is the world’s first iron-framed building.
He said: “I’m supporting the project 100 per cent and think it will be a great thing for tourism. We just need to get the bid in and accepted and start work. It has been dragging on and on for years much to everybody’s displeasure.
“Almost all Salopians are hoping this will take off – we really deserve to have it there as a tourist attraction. If we get the thing going, we should get right up there with the top attractions in the West Midlands. It is the first iron-framed building in the world and there is so much history attached.”
He said transport links could be provided between the site in Ditherington and the town centre to help attract visitors.
Councillor Bannerman said inspiration could be taken from the success of Ironbridge in attracting tourists to Shropshire.
“Ironbridge has done fantastically well at rescuring what was 40 years ago a whole lot of derelict sites. The Flax Mill is a very important part of the history of Shrewsbury.”
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- 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
