Council plays major role in Oswestry says mayor
Oswestry Town Council is seizing every opportunity to help fund and shape the future of the town, its Mayor has said.
Councillor Sandy Best said the council had a footprint in all aspects of the life in the town.
She was speaking at the annual civic dinner at the Wynnstay hotel, attended by guest speaker, Shropshire's new Lord Lieutenant, Anna Turner.
The mayor thanked Shropshire Council for working with the town council on projects , opportunities and strategies with the interests of Oswestry at their core.
"Shropshire Council has supported our application for funding from the Government's Future High Streets Fund that will give more than £650 million to town centres and we await the results of that selection process," she said.
"Our own investment in the town is considerable. Over recent months we have moved our market into the streets with some appreciable success and that has enabled us to retain the market tradition that is so important to Oswestry when many other towns have lost theirs."
Councillor Best congratulated Britain in Bloom for making the National RHS final and also those behind the Oswestry Business Improvement District which she said was supporting some of the town council's initiatives.
"Our town centre events continue to grow including Christmas Live, the lights switch on and the Balloon Festival.This council through its investment in these town centre activities supports business, tourism and economic growth.
"A high spot for me, as a historian, was the unveiling of the Wilfred Owen statue. At last Oswestry has marked its association with Wilfred Owen in a manner that is visible to our local community and our many visitors."
The Mayor also paid tribue to town clerk, David Preston, who will stand down in the summer after 44 years as clerk.
During the evening special awards were given out by the mayor.
These included an award to Sue Turner, the director of the Oswestry Youth Music Festival, now into its fifth decade, which attracts more than 1000 young people to compete.
Carrie and Tim Morris of Booka also received an award for creating an award winning bookshop working with schools and organisations and bringing many celebrities to the town.
There were additional awards for the council's retiring solicitor, Ian Glenister, retiring market traders, Bernard and Sue Coslett and the Woodward family for its investment in the town through the Wynnstay Hotel.
