A CYCLE repair hub will be given £14,000 by Oswestry Town Council after councillors were warned that not doing so could cost them money.

At the full town council meeting at the Guildhall on Wednesday, Councillor Duncan Kerr argued to give the cash to the Shropshire Cycle Hub, paid out of the active travel fund and also the sustainable travel fund, for the rickshaw transport service and a mechanic for the hub.

Cllr Kerr, who had been a vocal supporter of not approving the request when first made last month, said he was happy to see the money given when the Hub said it would allow them to become self-sufficient by the end of the year.

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The debate on the money was kicked off by Conservative member Frank Davis who said he had not changed his mind a month on.

He said: “I haven’t changed my mind from last time and it’s an extortionate amount of money for what we’d get.

“I’m not for it at all.”

Lib Dem member Jonathan Upton asked whether the Cycle Hub, which repairs and sells bikes on for profit, had confirmed whether the money was going to be used solely for the facility at The Cross.

Oswestry mayor and meeting chairman Cllr Olly Rose replied: “Yes they stated they want the money for a qualified mechanic in Oswestry three days a week.

“Once they get that they can sell bikes and this would fund their future work.”

Cllr Kerr said that if the money was not given, the Cycle Hub would have to move out of the former Edinburgh Mill Shop and would end up costing the council more in rates.

He added: “We’re trying to sell that building with no interest but also they are helping us save  paying business tax.

“They are paying rent to use it too so £6,000 of that comes back to us so it would be economic suicide to end the contract with them.

“They do need a mechanic and I recommend we go ahead and give them this as it’ll save us money.”

Cllr Kerr was seconded by Cllr Mike Isherwood but Cllr Mark Jones and Cllr Davis continued to query the application, with the former expressing disappointment that Hub representatives were no at the meeting.

However, town clerk Arren Roberts said the application was ‘outside normal processes’.

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All members supported the application, bar Cllrs Jones and Davis who voted against while Lib Dem pair Cllr James Owen and Cllr Upton abstained.

The latter also abstained from voting on approving the transfer of the food and drink pitch in Cae Glas Park, with all other councillors approving the item.

Councillors also approved continuing a service level agreement with Oswestry Borderland Tourism for another two years, with Cllr Upton abstaining again.