Oswestry’s deputy mayor has suggested the town council set out a strategy for the investment of more than £3 million.

Cllr Duncan Kerr told the Advertizer in July how he felt the money from the Smithfield Fund – received through the redevelopment of the former livestock site off Shrewsbury Road – should be invested in the town centre after Oswestry was unsuccessful in their Future High Streets Fund bid.

The deputy mayor raised the idea again at Monday night’s Finance and General Purposes Committee meeting.

He said the council should look at setting out a strategy for how and where the money should be invested.

“I think it’s now five years since that money came to us,” said Cllr Kerr.

“I think we need to now start thinking of how we can allocate some of that money as we head into next year.

“I don’t mean spend all of that money; I mean to break it down to our priorities, and then allocate it to certain areas going forward.

“Like I said, we’ve had it for some time, and I don’t think there have been any proposals to spend any significant portion.

“We’re taxing people every year, I think we owe it to people to use that investment for the benefit of Oswestry, for which it was granted to us.

“So, my proposal is that we ask the clerk to bring forward a proposal to our next meeting where we start to think as a council about how we can make an allocation in setting the capital programme for the next year.

“It’s a very gradual process but it starts that process by enabling the public to have a say on where the money should be spent.

“I have no specific ideas yet, but people would start to see where we intend to use that money.”

His thoughts were echoed by Cllr Paul Milner, who added that he believes the public deserves a say on how the money is spent.

He said: “I totally agree, that money is there to help to offset the out of town trade that would be taking away from the town centre.

“I agree that people should have a say now on how we spend that money so everything possible is done to bring people from the bypass and the shops into the town centre

“A consultation would be great and to get something moving on it as soon as possible would be ideal.”

Chairman of the committee, Cllr Chris Schofield, stated the money is set to be used for windfall priorities, including generating revenue, helping to keep council tax and unemployment down, public realm, and the town centre.

Town clerk Arren Roberts confirmed that some of the fund has already been spent on projects in the town.

The plan is expected to be put forward as part of the budget-setting process in autumn.