Gates that connect two main roads in Oswestry town centre are set to be closed overnight after anti-social behaviour.

The cut-through between English Walls and Church Street was recently reopened to businesses and residences, following the redevelopment of the former Greggs shop.

Graham Cheal, who runs one of the new businesses, Cat World, with his wife Di, says that while the owners of the property want to allow people to use it as a way of getting into the town centre, the anti-social behaviour they, other store holders and residents are facing, means the gates will have to be closed.

“The landlord has spent around millions on it and he owns the alleyway,” he said.

“The gates haven’t been closed so that people could pass through.

“The landlord and Oswestry BID have bought the gates and put them in but I think that the police in Oswestry – the Safer Neighbourhood Team – has possibly got in touch with them because people were using it to cut through.

“But it’s got to the point now that when before we open up and get to work in the morning, we’re finding needles in the alleyway as well as urine, sick and takeaway boxes.

“So because of this the gates are being locked overnight for the safety of the shop owners but also because of the residents that live above there too.”

But Graham added that the gates will be open on nights when the town is working late, such as for Christmas shopping or special openings or events in the town.

Graham added: “But when people are here the gates will be open and the residents will have access to it.

“We want to make it nice for people so it will still be open when there’s late night shopping.”

It is believed the re-development of the area cost around £4million.

Landlords of the property, Jordan and Faber, were contacted for confirmation of the closure but had not yet responded.