Ideas for boosting Shrewsbury’s tourism will come under the spotlight when railway enthusiasts hold talks with Shirehall officials.
Members of Shrewsbury Railway Heritage Trust will meet with Shropshire Council officials on Friday to discuss ideas for a heritage centre and trail at the old Abbey Foregate railway station.
Mansel Williams, who chairs the trust, said this would be the first meeting to establish where the new unitary council stands on the proposed development – which has been split into three phases and is estimated to cost in excess of £400,000.
Ideas range from creating a £100,000 open-air exhibition space to a £300,000 visitor centre and far-reaching trails for walking and cycling – opening up the old Shrewsbury and Montgomeryshire Light Railway line in the process.
So far work has already begun to create trails for walkers at the railway line’s end in Nantmawr, near Oswestry, which is being developed by the Cambrian Railways Society.
Mr Williams said: “The Abbey station development is very important from the point of view of potential tourism development. We’ve got groups of people in position along the line and it’s going to be a question of how Shropshire Council wants to draw that all together.
“It can be something for everyone and will give people the opportunity to walk from South Shropshire all the way to Whitchurch.
“All the railways would link with the main one in Abbey Foregate, which is all ready to go as a pilot scheme. Between July and August we should have a plan of action.”
