Proposed changes to the layout and design of Oswestry’s main car park will go out to public consultation later this year, it has been confirmed.

Oswestry Town Council, which owns the Central car park, says alterations are needed to improve pedestrian safety and address anti-social behaviour.

Councillors have also resolved to immediately have the faulty exit barriers removed, rather than spend £5,000 on repairing them.

Three options for how the layout could be improved will be put to the public, but the council agreed to hold off opening the consultation until the current consultation on the draft Oswestry Masterplan, being run by Shropshire Council, has ended.

At a meeting on Monday evening, town clerk Arren Roberts and operations manager Simon Cranmer told members that all three schemes, which have been drawn up by highways consultants at Berrys, were all expected to cost around the same amount.

Suggested improvements include more disabled bays, parent and child spaces and tree planting.

Speed humps could also be created between the entrance and exit points, which are both lined up for new safety measures.

A loading bay for nearby businesses could also be added at the entrance.

All three options include having the entire car park resurfaced, phased over several years to ensure it can remain open.

It is hoped the alterations will prevent motorists from using the car park as a ‘rat-run’ and deter people from congregating there in their vehicles late at night – an issue that has long caused a problems for people living nearby.

The first two options were presented at a meeting last July, but councillors later decided they wanted to see a third scheme drawn up and this was provided by Berry’s in December.

Councillor Frank Davis said he was “disappointed” that no costings had been given for the three options, which he said could be an important consideration for the public when weighing up the proposals during the consultation.

Councillor Davis also questioned whether a loading bay was needed, saying it would be better to add some more trees in that area instead.

Councillor Duncan Kerr agreed that costings should be provided. He added: “We have talked about this for long enough now, there comes a day when you have to start taking some action.”

Mr Roberts and Mr Cranmer said it was difficult to estimate the costs before a tender process had been carried out and contractors appointed.

Councillors agreed to proceed with the consultation on the three options.