'A clean, safe and well-presented town centre is fundamental to Shrewsbury’s success': Business group backs town council cleaning service takeover
Concerns over the cleanliness of Shrewsbury town centre have led a business group to back a town council takeover of services.
Shrewsbury Town Council is this evening (Monday, January 26) expected to agree to take over a number of Shropshire Council services - including street cleaning, CCTV and related town centre services.
Shrewsbury Business Improvement District (BID) has spoken in support of the move.
In a statement the BID said it had discussed the plan and that its directors had spoken of a decline in standards of cleanliness in the town centre - an issue it said had also been raised by businesses.
It added that Shrewsbury Business Chamber is also supportive of the plan.
In a statement Shrewsbury BID said: "The BID’s Board of Directors has discussed the proposals and acknowledged that standards of cleanliness in the town centre have declined in recent years, an issue raised consistently by businesses and echoed through feedback from the public.
"A clean, safe and well-presented town centre is fundamental to Shrewsbury’s success, helping to attract visitors, support footfall, build confidence for investment and boost pride in the town for residents.
"Shrewsbury BID has also met with the Shrewsbury Business Chamber to discuss the proposals, with both organisations aligned in their support for the town council’s approach. This reflects a shared view across the town centre business community that action is needed to protect and improve both environmental standards and public safety."
The BID said it was worried that due to Shropshire Council's financial crisis that without the town council taking over, the services will be impacted.
It said: "The BID recognises the serious and urgent financial challenges facing Shropshire Council, which have placed increasing pressure on frontline services, including street cleansing and CCTV provision. In this context, Shrewsbury BID has expressed concern that without the town council stepping up in this way, standards of cleanliness and safety in the town centre could decline further, with a significant negative impact on the town centre economy.
"Shrewsbury BID believes that greater local control of street cleaning, CCTV and related services offers an opportunity to raise standards, strengthen accountability and deliver tangible benefits for the town centre and its economy. Alongside these changes, the BID is committed to facilitating the business community stepping up in a positive and constructive way, encouraging shared ownership of the town centre environment and supporting initiatives that complement improved cleanliness, safety and presentation.
"Shrewsbury BID looks forward to continuing to work in partnership with Shrewsbury Town Council, Shropshire Council and other stakeholders to support a cleaner, safer and more vibrant Shrewsbury."
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