Border guards will patrol all entrances to Shrewsbury town centre and no-one without a special passport will be allowed in – but it’s for one day only as part of an event promoting the town’s independent traders.
The guards will be stationed by the town’s railway station and the English and Welsh bridges handing out ‘passports’ for the independent state of Shrewsbury on July 4. It’s one of a host of ideas planned for ‘Independents’ Day being put together by the Shop in the Loop traders group.
An organising committee is due to meet in the next few weeks to confirm activities for the day, which is being repeated after a hugely successful inaugural event last year.
Other ideas put forward at a group meeting last week included personal shoppers being stationed in the town who would act as tour guides, while promotional leaflets will be handed out, and Shop in the Loop banners would be set up throughout the town centre. It is hoped popular areas such as Shrewsbury Castle and the Square will be used for activities.
Group members are also putting together plans for a display for this year’s Flower Show.
Jocelyn Fildes, one of the organisers of Independents’ Day, said: “There are two things we are hoping to do to be a bit different. We want to have personal shoppers in the town and we also want to have border guards on the entrances to the town – Shrewsbury will have declared its independence and the guards in costumes will be handing out passports to shoppers coming in.
“We are hoping to get local college students involved with things like makeovers and giving tips on hair and beauty. We will be handing out leaflets in the town too.
“We are relying on traders in the town offering free gifts and incentives to shoppers. Last year we had a great response from everyone and we are hoping for more of the same this year.”
If you have any ideas for the event or want to learn more about Shop in the Loop, contact chairman John Hall on 01743 245950. (email - shopintheloop@live.co.uk).
