Oswestry is blooming beautiful
An market town bidding to win Britain in Bloom has brought in Highways England to help its cause.
The Oswestry In Bloom committee held talks with the government body recently to press for a scheme to improve one of the gateways to the town.
Mile End Roundabout has been criticised in past years for being an eyesore for judges arriving in Oswestry for the Heart of England in Bloom competition.
Now the town has won through to the national Britain in Bloom finals, it is hoped that the traffic island can be planted up for the visit in the summer.
After 13 years of winning Gold, Oswestry was hailed best large town in the regional in 2017 going through to this year's national competition.
On Thursday in-bloom chairman, Miss Betty Gull, met with Shropshire and town councillors and representatives from Highways England to discuss how the roundabout could give a welcome to the judges.
Both Mile End and the Whittington roundabout are to benefit from a £9.3million improvement scheme funded by the government to improve access to a major housing development off the Oswestry bypass.
Miss Gull said the town's bid for national success also needed help from the local community and businesses.
"The bar is now being raised quite dramatically," she said.
"It is clear that the emphasis is not so much on community initiatives as it is in the Heart of England competition but much more horticultural," she said.
"This will be a great adventure for Oswestry. We need community groups to look after their green spaces, for example we hope to have a working party for the Harlech Road/HenleyWoods area in March.
"We would also like businesses to do their bit by getting involved in the town council's hanging basket scheme and individuals to ensure their front gardens are looking their best."
Oswestry Town Council is a major player in the in-bloom success.
The town's Cae Glas park won a special trophy for its floral exhibits last year and park staff are already gearing up to impress the national judges.
The council also runs an annual, hanging baskets and planters scheme and is hoping more businesses than ever will sign up to have one or more of the floral decorations on their buildings in 2018 for the competition. For a small extra fee the baskets are watered weekly.
