Shropshire Star

Wave of support for British Ironwork Centre planning application

A raft of support has been given to an Oswestry tourist attraction that is bidding to finally get retrospective planning permission.

Published
The British Ironwork Centre

The British Ironwork Centre was embroiled in controversy when it was revealed it did not have planning permission for its grounds.

The tourist attraction, which is home to the iconic Knife Angel welcomes thousands of visitors every year and had to issue a retrospective planning application.

That was eventually withdrawn, and re-submitted earlier this year.

It is not known when it will go before the Shropshire Planning Committee, however a raft of support has recently been posted on the online planning portal.

A host of individuals have given their support to the application along with organisations such as the Alzheimers Society, Guide Dogs, Oswestry Show, the British Model Soldier Society, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Charity, Oswestry Bloom and Shropshire Youth Theatre.

Maggie Love of Shropshire Youth Theatre said the centre is vital and supports young people and arts all over the county.

She said in a letter: "The British Ironwork Centre has been mainstay in supporting young people with this experience in the provision of set material.

"They provide furniture and props for productions including delivering and collection.

Conditions

"This is not an isolated occurrence as they reach out into the community in a positive and encouraging manner to develop the arts across Shropshire.

"The British Ironwork Centre also provides financial support to other theatre events that I am involved in producing."

The support comes after highways officers demanded to have more detail on how the tourist attraction will manage traffic from events.

In August, Robert Jaffier from Highways England set out a series of three conditions should planning permission be given by Shropshire Council.

Clive Knowles, chair of the centre has said he is committed to carrying out the conditions from the Highways Agency.

He said earlier this month: "They are completely do-able and we are confident that we will be able to complete them within the 12 months.

“The measures can only benefit our staff and our visitors and there is real enthusiasm now to get on with it."