Town plans how to mark the Olympics
Shrewsbury could be awash in a sea of colour with street parties and re-creation of the original Wenlock Games planned to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics.
Shrewsbury could be awash in a sea of colour with street parties and re-creation of the original Wenlock Games planned to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics.
Shrewsbury Town Council is exploring different ways to mark the events and is giving residents the chance suggest ideas for celebrations and how they could be funded.
Councillor Jon Tandy told a meeting of the council's recreation and leisure committee: "It would be a good idea to ask the public what we could do to celebrate these events.
"I'd really like to see street parties in the town."
Town clerk Helen Ball said she thought the council should start looking into events now because any large scale celebration could take years to plan.
She said: "We have to start planning now even though 2012 seems far away."
Mike Cox, the town council's outdoor recreation and asset manager, said plans were already under way for an event to mark the Olympics.
He said: "We are hoping to host an event in the Quarry based on the Much Wenlock Olympics where people can have a go at some of the original games."
Councillor Jackie Brennand said the public could help generate funding ideas as well as ideas for what kind of events could be staged.
She said: "I'm sure the public could come up with some great ideas but they must think of how it can be funded as well."
She added they might not host just one event but a whole series of events throughout the town.
Councillors last night voted to set up a sub committee to look at the events.
This month it was revealed that dancers in Shropshire would be helping to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics after being asked to stage a series of special performances.
People Dancing, a three-year project taking place across the West Midlands, is being organised as part of the West Midlands Culture Programme for London 2012.
Shropshire's project will be run by Arts Alive and be called Shift. Dance performances and workshops will be delivered by three venues in Whitchurch, Much Wenlock and Bishop's Castle.
By Emma Kasprzak
