Bosses at the West Mid Showground plan to spend more than £130,000 on a major revamp of the historic venue – if they can attract the funding.
Around £100,000 is being sought in grants to spend on resurfacing and upgrading all the roads around the showground, while an undisclosed sponsorship sum has been donated to build new ticket booths and gates at gates three and four, used by the public during the West Mid Show.
Already around £30,000 has been made available by Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council to improve the toilets on Queen’s Avenue and in the members’ pavilion, and there are plans to replace a leaking flat roof by the members’ pavilion.
The plans have been revealed by the retiring chairman of the West Midlands Agricultural Society, David Tudor, who has stood down after four years.
But he added the projects would have to be paid for through external funding and that several funding agencies were being approached.
Last week it emerged society bosses were in line to receive a cash windfall of up to £50,000 after paying too much VAT over 20 years.
Mr Tudor, who has been succeeded as chairman by Annie Home-Dodd, will remain a trustee.
He said the work would benefit the show as the showground was now used all year round for the West Mid Show, horticultural events, horse shows and music concerts.
He said: “We have a number of projects we hope to complete in the next year, hopefully in time for next year’s show.
“We want to install new ticket booths and gates at gates three and four, while all the roads around the showground were laid down in the 1940s and need resurfacing and repairing – that will probably cost around £100,000.”