URGENT help is needed to boost the county’s struggling town centres, a councillor has said.

Shropshire Council’s cabinet is expected to approve Oswestry and Shrewsbury as first round bidders for a share of the government’s £675 million Future High Street Fund next week.

But Councillor Andy Boddington, member for Ludlow North, will put a motion to the council next week calling on a group to be set up to boost all struggling town centres in the county.

The motion is already backed by Cllr Roger Evans for Longden, Cllr Chris Mellings for Wem and Cllr Tracey Huffer for Ludlow East.

It calls on Shropshire Council to set up a task and finish group to see if a vitalisation fund can be set up to boost the county’s high streets.

Cllr Boddington said: “The government recently announced a Future High Streets Fund.

“After discussions it became clear that most rural market towns are unlikely to benefit from the scheme.

“This is not because these towns are thriving; many are struggling. But the criteria tips applications towards failed town centres in larger towns and cities.

“The Future High Streets fund has nevertheless created a desire for public sector intervention to boost and maintain the viability of high streets across Shropshire.

“Even those high streets that are currently regarded as successful could decline quickly in the face of challenges of online shopping and, should one occur, a recession.

“Every market town in Shropshire has different needs. Some have derelict buildings. In others, the quality of the public realm is poor.

“Several need to improve sustainable transport infrastructure to increase footfall.”

Councillor Boddington said the motion will call on the council to start a task and finish group to examine the case for and feasibility of a market towns vitalisation fund for Shropshire.

It will also identify the level of budget required to meet identified need, using finance from capital reserves or borrowing as appropriate; ensure the fund is open to all towns and large villages in the unitary area that have a recognisable high street, not just those considered to be a market town in planning policy and  will report back to cabinet and council in May 2019.

Shropshire Council revealed this week that Oswestry and Shrewsbury have been selected to go forward for the funding.

In a report going to cabinet next week, Mark Barrow, the council’s director of place, said: “The panel assessed the Oswestry proposal and recommends that this goes forward to the first round.

“The panel concluded that this was a well written proposal which gave an authentic picture of Oswestry.

“However, it will be important to expand the detail to capture and enable a focus on a bigger vision for the town. There is some good creative thinking on using new environmental technology in the town.”

Mr Barrow also noted that proposals to the panel had to outline potential match funding.

He added: “In Oswestry, Shropshire Council has provisionally secured up to £9.3m of Housing Infrastructure Fund to support and enable the development and delivery of housing in Oswestry.

“There is an opportunity now to explore collaboration with the BID and town council regarding match funding opportunities aligning resources across the the organisations as well as exploring further funding opportunities and resources.”

Councillors have previously noted that some of the council’s £4 million windfall could be used to support the bid.

Whitchurch was recommended for consideration for the second round of funding in 2020.

Business cases for the first round will be submitted by late 2019.

Shropshire Council Cabinet will review the recommendations on February 27.