A proposal to name Oswestry’s new £170,000 town green after the town’s most famous son, the war poet Wilfred Owen, has won the support of councillors.

Town councillors said they backed a suggestion that the five-acre site off Gobowen Road should be called the Wilfred Owen Town Green.

The famous poet was born in Oswestry in 1893 and his First World War verse has become standard reading for schoolchildren all over the world.

Oswestry councillors at their amenities committee on Wednesday said the poet’s ties to the town would be celebrated if the new town green was named in his honour.

The new area, built on derelict former railway land, is soon to be opened to the public.

Councillor Martin Bennett said: “This idea that the town green should be dedicated to Wilfred Owen has been floating around for a while.

“I am told if it is named after him, it will be the largest memorial to Wilfred Owen in the world.

Visitors

“A visit for councillors to have a look at the site has been pencilled in for July 5 and I think having the town green connected to Wilfred Owen would encourage more visitors.

“However, whatever we call it I am sure it will be called a variety of things such as the five-acre site, the railway land or the Wilfred Owen Town Green.

“I suggest we agree to the proposal that it should be called the Wilfred Owen Town Green.”

Fellow councillors agreed the council should write to Shropshire Council which is overseeing the development to outline its support.

An actual date for the opening for the green to the public has not yet been announced by Shropshire Council although it is hoped it will be some time in July.

Advantage West Midlands bought the site several years ago, planning to site a primary care centre there.

But a legal bid to designate it a town green was successful, blocking the move, and Advantage West Midlands handed the land to Shropshire Council. National grants helped put together a scheme to turn it into a mix of play areas and leisure and wildlife areas.

By Iain St John