DON’T take too long a look at the sad state of Oswestry’s former Aston’s furniture shop - sandwiched between Icon’s barber shop and Sports Direct - as it’s now a deteriorating disgrace that will distress you in Cross Street.

And the reason is simple. The Liverpool agency selling it will ‘only’ smarten it with a complete refurbishment, if it finds a potential occupant.

But who’s going to consider such a rotting mess of abandonment, with window frames being eaten away and windows so dirty you can barely see inside.

The owners need to put the horse before the cart - to refurbish it first - and only then will its potential be realised and its occupation will follow!

Good luck ladies!

HOW refreshing - as national chain restaurants are feeling the pinch and shutting - that an independent mother and daughter venture in Ellesmere is thriving.

Deborah Melkis, 57, and daughter Elena, 34, founded ‘Meze’ last February, after suspecting there was demand for authentic Greek food in the town.

They are overjoyed the new venture has not only lifted off, but they are poised for ‘to fly in 2018’ after exceeding initial sales expectations.

So ‘καλ? τ?χη εσε?ς δ?ο’ which is ‘Good luck, you two’.

Worth the investment?

IF WHITTINGTON-based Shropshire Councillor Steve Charmley comes up with the goods, he will be Oswestry’s saviour’ - after heading a county expenditure list at a business event in Cannes.

It was to tempt business to Shropshire and he was on the business trip with Shrewsbury Councillor Nic Laurens at a list-topping cost of £19,600.

The event included a shirt-sleeved beach lunch before the heady business of targeting businesses to fill our new innovation park and the derelict Morrison’s site.

Let’s hope it’s the best investment Shropshire has ever made!

Silence is deafening

MEANWHILE, just five days short of April, whatever is happening over the Oswestry Ironworks’ retrospective planning application?

It was promised towards the end of 2017, but never came.

Now on the cusp of April, we are deafened by extreme silence!

Free parking maybe?

FORMER health minister Ludlow MP Philip Dunne has called on all of Shropshire to get behind the controversial Future Fit proposals - which will see one A&E department closed at either the Royal Shrewsbury or Princess Royal in Telford - saying it’s the best way to help secure the investment needed.

Well, now that nurses are getting their long-deserved pay rise, cannot the RSH put the cherry on the cake and give them free parking at their place of work?