'Wish list' drawn up for future of Oswestry and surrounding area
A wish list for the future of Oswestry over the coming years includes better broadband, upgrading the electricity, water and sewerage systems and the possibility of a new school - all supporting major housing and employment developments.
Oswestry's blueprint for the future includes more than 500 new homes and a business park off the bypass and more housing and employment land at Park Hall.
The "place plan", which Oswestry Town Council will debate tomorrow, says these would need to be supported by improvements to the basic infrastructure in the area.
The draft plan sets out the vision for Oswestry in the future but stresses that it is an "ideal world" scenario.
"Funding restrictions mean that we have to make some difficult decisions and prioritise the infrastructure that is most important. Place plans help to identify and prioritise infrastructure needs within the area," the draft document says.
Upgrading
It sets out the key infrastructure issues as development of Oswestry Innovation park, 22.7 hectares of employment land off the Mile End Roundabout; provision of new housing through the Oswestry Sustainable Urban Extension; potential for a mixed use development, including key worker accommodation at Park hall; development of healthcare opportunities with the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital; ICT and Broadband improvements.
There are also plans for electrical upgrading across the area, various flooding risk management infrastructure works for the Morda Valley, Dovaston and Kinnerley and Gobowen and sewerage and waste water improvements at Oswestry, Gobowen, Whittington and Weston Rhyn.
Community Infrastructure Levy money could be used for additional primary and secondary school place provision because of the planned growth in Oswestry while supporting the housing would also need general practice and primary care facilities in Oswestry.
The document also looks at expanding the Baschurch medical surgery.
A highway improvement wish list includes workon Weston Road, improvements to the road layout at the Aston and British Ironwork Centre and Shotatton junction on the A5, the Ellesmere Road junction at St Martins and highway improvements in Weston Rhyn village.
Local parish councils have put through a host of improvements they want to see, including better sport and leisure facilities, road safety and highways improvements, provision for young people and improved car parking.
