Calls for a greener priority list for Oswestry Town Council
Oswestry Town Council is being urged to adopt a greener approach to its priorities for the next four years.
Reconnecting the town to the mainline railway, tree planting and getting cycle lanes are one a wish list put forward the outgoing mayor and leader of the GreenPparty on the council, Duncan Kerr, to the annual town meeting on Wednesday.
It will be the first face-to-face meeting about the council priorities of Oswestry Town Council over the next four years and the first since the Green Party won 12 of the 18 seats in the elections earlier this month.
As well as green issues, there are calls for more youth services and for action on potholes, litter and dog mess as well as looking at how to re-let empty shops in the town.
Bringing a new tourist attraction to Oswestry could also be on the agenda for the new council.
Councillor Kerr's motion says that the priorities of the council should be:
Reconnecting Oswestry to the mainline railway
Making Oswestry Town Council carbon neutral
Increasing the planting of trees and improving biodiversity
Providing more youth services and facilities
Working with other agencies to provide more affordable housing
Developing more cycle lanes and controlling traffic speeds and getting potholes filled
Running effective campaigns
Taking direct action to reduce problems of litter, graffiti and dog waste.
He also says the council should:
Urge Shropshire Council to use its statutory powers to get unsightly empty shops in the town centre re-let
Form an effective partnership with the police, community and youth services to tackle issues of drugs and anti-social behaviour in the town
Investigate options for the development of a significant new tourist attraction for Oswestry and improve communications and involvement of residents in the work of the town council.
Councillor Kerr is asking that, in consultation with councillors, the town clerk prepares and presents to a future council meeting a corporate plan for 2021 to 2025, incorporate these priorities and review the financial and human resources, structures and working arrangements of the council accordingly.
The meeting will be held in the Eastern Oswestry Community Centre on Wednesday at 7pm and because of Covid restrictions still in place will be restricted to councillors.
Members of the public will be able to join this meeting online at us02web.zoom.us/j/84138054761 Meeting ID: 841 3805 4761
The link will be available from 6.45pm to allow any technological issues to be resolved.
