NEW calls have been made to tackle an eyesore town centre street that has had a temporary road layout in place - marked by cones and barriers - since the Covid lockdown.

Plans to improve Church Street in the town centre by expanding pedestrian space with planters, street furniture and a formal one-way system have been strongly supported by local organisations.

Temporary barriers and cones have been in place since an "experimental" one way system was proposed during the latter stages of the first Covid lockdown during the summer of 2020.

Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat MP for the area, has written to Shropshire Council urging action to make sure the work by Oswestry Town Council and Business and Improvement District does not go to waste.

And she blamed delays on Shropshire Council's part for the ongoing appearance of the street. 

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She said: “Church Street’s temporary layout has been in place far too long and needs to be sorted out ASAP.

“Lots of hard-working local business owners would see an almost immediate improvement as a result of these works.

“A thriving high street is essential to any market town, and Oswestry has a great opportunity to make itself more attractive to visitors and residents alike.”

The Oswestry BID team secured £70,000 from the Heritage Action Zone to invest in the area but the new furniture and planters it bought are stranded in storage due to the lack of action by Shropshire Council.

The MP added: “It is now down to Shirehall bosses to clear this bottleneck and get the project moving. Otherwise great work done locally by the BID and the Town Council – and funding secured from the Heritage Action Zone – will go to waste.

“I have discussed this with the leader of Shropshire Council and reiterated how keen residents in Oswestry are to get going as soon as possible.

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“We all want Oswestry to be an even better place to live, and I really hope that this can make a difference for our biggest market town.”

Meanwhile the town is preparing to represent the Heart of England in this year’s Britain in Bloom contest, however, Church Street remains demarked mostly by traffic cones and ‘HOG’ barriers, as it has been since the pandemic.

Shropshire Council has been approached for comment.