Shropshire Star

Visit to check options for future of Clive Barracks site

A task force set up to ensure the smooth closure and redevelopment of Shropshire's Clive Barracks will visit the site in the new year.

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Clive Barracks

The group, which was organised by North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson, will visit the barracks, near Market Drayton, as part of a fact-finding mission.

The task force wants to find out what potential there is to develop the site in Tern Hill.

The group was started following an announcement by the Ministry of Defence in March that it would pull out of the site and was at an early stage of preparing options for its re-use.

Mr Paterson said the visit had been arranged after the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, which is currently based there, set off on its latest tour to Afghanistan.

"We want to have a good look around the site itself and establish exactly how big it is," he said.

Mr Paterson has already visited a similar site in Hampshire with fellow members of the Tern Hill Task Force.

A 20-year project in Hampshire will see the area transformed with new houses, employment creation, a new town centre, leisure centre, schools, health services, open space and transport links.

Mr Paterson said: "We are keen to go to similar sites to learn lessons of what to do and what not to do.

"I am keen to get housing. It might help relieve the constant flack of new housing being built in villages where it is seen as inappropriate.

"It is down to Shropshire Council to attract developers interested in creating new housing in north Shropshire. I haven't got a concern with that.

"The important thing is to keep everyone informed. We want the parish council, Shropshire Council and town council working together.

"I met with the head of the local primary school recently and it was a really useful meeting."

While some residents in Market Drayton think it will be an excellent opportunity to boost the local economy and tourism in the area, others believe the site should be left alone and redevelopment could take business away from the area.

Mr Paterson said: "It is a one-off opportunity which I believe will help the area in a major way. It is almost unique.

"All ideas of what people would like to see be created there are welcome."

Mr Paterson said he didn't believe a date had been fixed when they would be visiting the site.

The MoD said the site has the potential to provide land for up to 600 houses and money from the sales will be ploughed back into defence spending.

It is not yet known where the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment will relocate to.

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