Oswestry Town Council divided over plans for £365,000 ‘services revolution’ and proposed tax hike
A proposal by Oswestry Liberal Democrat councillors to take over and dramatically improve the town’s green spaces has sparked a fierce political row over local control, standards of maintenance, and the scale of the financial burden on residents.
The controversial move, which was backed by the Liberal Democrats on Wednesday night, aims to deliver a "services revolution" that would secure and invest heavily in playing fields, open spaces, and play areas currently managed by Shropshire Council.
The Case for Local Control and Improvement
The proposal stems from a council report outlining the required expansion of Oswestry Town Council's operations, including additional staff, equipment, and space, with an indicative annual cost of approximately £365,000.
Liberal Democrat councillors are advocating for the transfer of popular local assets, such as Brynhafod Playing Field, Wilfred Owen Green, and Llwyn Coppice, to town council management. They argue this would guarantee responsive maintenance and raise standards to the "very high" level currently seen in town-run areas like Cae Glas Park.
Councillor James Owen (Lib Dem, Cabin Lane) strongly endorsed the plan, framing it as a necessary step to bring decision-making closer to home.
“This proposal takes decisions away from officers in Shrewsbury, or potentially commissioners from London, trying to cut costs,” said Cllr Owen. “It asks that the town council is given some of what is currently paid to contractors for the already bad service. Alternatively, car parks such as Festival Square and Oak Street could be managed by the town council to raise the same income itself, meaning the money for parking in Oswestry, will only be spent in Oswestry.”
To deliver this service expansion, the town council is asking residents to accept a precept increase. This top-up funding would amount to up to £6.94 per month for 75% of Oswestry households, or less than £8.92 for 94% of households, and would be used exclusively to improve the transferred areas. Any surplus, Cllr Owen noted, could be invested in other local priorities such as public transport, the library service, and local charities.
Cross-Party Opposition Over Costs and Consultation
However, the proposal has been met with strong opposition from North Shropshire Conservatives, Green councillors Duncan Kerr and Stephen Froggatt, and Independent councillor Jay Moore, who argue the potential doubling of the town council’s share of Council Tax is an unacceptable burden on struggling families.
North Shropshire Conservatives condemned the plan as a "disgraceful attempt to ram through a huge, unmandated tax hike without honest consultation." They accuse the Liberal Democrats of attempting to "bail out Shropshire Council’s financial mess" at the expense of local households.
A spokesperson for North Shropshire Conservatives confirmed they have begun working cross-party with Green and Independent councillors to coordinate a response.
"Working cross party, we are determined to stop this," the spokesperson stated. "We have already engaged with Green and Independent councillors to coordinate a response, including pushing for an emergency council meeting so residents can finally be heard."
Opponents also highlighted a perceived unfairness, noting that residents in neighbouring villages who also use Oswestry’s parks would not be subjected to the same "eye-watering increases." The Conservatives have pledged to challenge the proposal and called on local MP Helen Morgan to attend any meeting held with residents.
The Town Council is already facing significant cost increases related to business rates and national pay settlements, alongside existing plans to expand investment in youth provision and CCTV, meaning the cost of the proposed "services revolution" will be layered onto existing budget pressures.
