Driving through Castle Foregate yesterday I noticed how much the area is changing for the better.

New homes being built by Jennings which have/will smarten up the area considerably and match in well with the existing properties and buildings.

The removal of the old Royal Mail bridge has also begun making the area look less cluttered.

Now it just needs Ditherington that needs tidying up, I believe that the current BT land will be used for new hones as well as the old MEB property once its demolished.

Things that need doing in the area to the North of the Town Centre:

Moris Lubricants - the factory needs shifting. Quite how this little bit of industry remains in the heart of the town is beyond me! A new site could be easily found for the factory on the edge of town somewhere. The current site in Castlefields could then be used for housing or even a car park for town centre users.

Land in between the railways - there's a huge area of wasteland behind the Crewe and Chester lines that could really be used for town purposes. Either housing or commercial. It's been on the borough town planning maps as development land for ages now and nothing is being done.

Flaxmill - need I say more? Anyone who's been to the Flaxmill in recent decades will have noticed the huge wasted opportunity that exists here. Currently derilict and the lands around it are being used as builder's yards. Great.... <_<

Bus Depot - this can go too.

BT/MEB site - the one you've mentioned Chris. It was sold to developers many years ago. Maybe they've forgotten about it?? Who knows...

Shrewsbury Canal - this is planned on being restored. But it's a rather expensive project. Don't expect anything for a few decades on this one either!

Ho hum! :unsure:

I forgot to mention that there is a rumour that the Royal Mail will eventually move to Battlefield as they have no need to be located near the railway station for reasons mentioned in my first post and others.

Apparently those who deliver the mail will be dropped off by minibus for delivering to their designated walks.

How true this is who knows? and once again I imagine if true would be a long way off.

Everyone in town seems to want to move to Battlefield and by the time Royal Mail get round to moving the place will be full!

Things moving to/being established at Battlefield:

Shropshire/Shrewsbury Police HQ
Shropshire Food Enterprise Park
Shrewsbury Livestock Market
Furrows Ford
Other car dealerships
Hotel/service station
Possible Railfreight Terminal
Shropshire County Council waste/recycling centre

Then where are the new Bus Depot, Borough Council Depot and potentially the new Fire and Ambulance stations going to go too??

:blink:

Remind me where the canal is ^^ I lived there 10 years (near Meole) and I can't remember a canal!!

I think the canal used to run through Uffington, across the back of the Seven Pitches playing field through Ditherington which is where Far Gardens was built and then I think past the Flaxmill and into Castlefields, where it terminated at the Buttermarket.

I have some photo's I'll route them out and post them on here.

Shrewsbury Canal page with information