OSWESTRY Town Council will approach a business in the town to discuss whether land could be used or purchased to create green space and parking.

In a motion brought forward by Councillor Duncan Kerr to Wednesday’s full town council meeting, the senior Green Party member urged his colleagues to agree to buy the land close to Orchard Street and Eden Street, off Beatrice Street. 

The motion was seconded by Conservative councillor Les Maguire and passed; however, it faced a number of queries as to why the land had to be bought and whether Rontec could take the lead on it.

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Cllr Kerr told the meeting that the area was plagued by anti-social behaviour and that fellow councillor Paul Milner had tried something similar in the past.

He added that someone from the firm had been in touch with him to discuss the possibility of creating car parking and green space.

However, Cllr Rosie Radford – now a Liberal Democrat councillor – asked if it was a better first step to talk to police in the town as to what impact on anti-social behaviour, both positive or negative – park space would have.

Cllr Jonathan Upton, who also joined the Lib Dems last year, suggested that as Rontec has shown interest in working then ‘maybe they can do the work and we support them and save us some money going forward’.

Cllr Maguire added: “It is a high area of anti-social behaviour and we’ve had residents here in the past telling us about issues with drugs.

“I support the motion but if we turn it into a park, it could attract more anti-social behaviour.

“But maybe we can approach BID and Shropshire Council to support us in establishing CCTV in the area to help young and old residents.

“Crime and drugs brings shoplifting and if we can challenge it, then hopefully it will reduce shoplifting.”

Cllr Kerr replied: “We’re getting ahead of ourselves thinking about CCTV etc – a properly managed space is needed and we need to get our ducks in a row.

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“But we need a space down there for people to take their children.”

Town clerk Arren Roberts told the meeting that there is a chance to work with police in nearby King Street and also said that if the company expresses interest then delegated powers could be used to investigate a price which will be taken back to council.

This was agreed.