The leader of Shropshire Council has unveiled his vision for the future of Shrewsbury – a town producing its own electricity from the River Severn and boasting a five star hotel and a world heritage site at Ditherington Flax Mill.
Councillor Keith Barrow offered to help the struggling West Mid Show by paying its £9,000 annual site lease – but promised not to throw taxpayers’ money at it. And he expressed his embarrassment at the council’s ‘poor communication’ over the spiralling cost of the Quantum Leap sculpture.
In a wide-ranging interview with the Chronicle, Councillor Barrow declared his personal commitment to the county town.
“Shrewsbury is the largest population centre at the geographical heart of Shropshire and is highly important to the economy of the county,” he said.
“One idea I’m really keen to investigate is green energy – and we are looking into the feasibility of using the River Severn to create hydro-electricity.”
He said hi-tech inflatable weirs, used successfully in the USA, could be used to generate power and make the river navigable.
“A new range of technological solutions is on offer and the council has decided to invite organisations to submit bids so a decision can be made on the best option.”
Councillor Barrow said Shrewsbury was a superb tourist destination but the town was crying out for a four or five star hotel suitable for conferences.
He said he hoped Ditherington Flax Mill, the world’s first iron-framed building, would become a world heritage site alongside the Pyramids, Great Wall of China, Ironbridge and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
But he was personally uneasy about surrounding it with housing and would prefer to see it developed a piece at a time.
On the West Mid Show, he said he had no intention of sitting back to watch it ‘wither and die’.
That was why Shropshire Council had offered support to the Shropshire and West Midlands Agricultural Society in its efforts to keep afloat, pay creditors, particularly local firms, and stage a new Shropshire Show based on agriculture.
“The society has a fair chance of making it work and we are willing to take on the showground lease and help with the cost and logistics of mailing,” he said. “But I’m certainly not going to pay shedloads of taxpayers’ money into propping up a failing event.”
Asked about the furore over the Quantum Leap sculpture and its £483,000 cost, Councillor Barrow said: “We took it over from the old borough council and had no choice but to finish it.
“But I think the way we handled publicity over it is poor. The way we communicate needs to be more open and straightforward.”
He said also hoped to boost community links with Shrewsbury Town Football Club, including helping NEETS – young people not in education, employment or training – to meet players at the Prostar Stadium.
By Peter Johnson
