Samantha Jones, Project Officer of the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ), who is working to enhance Oswestry town centre on behalf of Shropshire Council, joined Borderland recently to update them the on the progress of the many projects which she oversees.
Samantha talked about the general aims, projects and funding sources of the scheme, and gave a very illuminating case study of one of the developments on Church Street which is near completion.
She said, “The HSHAZ and Love Oswestry is a positive endeavour in an apparently negative world which was set up a couple of years ago to accentuate the good things about the town and improve some of the not so good. Take the alleyways, for instance, they have been left to their own devices for many years but now, with the help and funding from Historic England, Shropshire Council, and the Town Council, they are being improved as we speak.
“We are also planning to hold another Love Oswestry event on the 18th February 2023 after the success of the first one, earlier this year, which brought together many groups and charitable organisations for lots of activities throughout the day and culminated in the lantern-lit parade from Red Square to the Bailey Head. I’d like to thank the Borderland members that helped on that rainy weekend”.
Andy Boroughs from Borderland commented, “I had no idea that the HSHAZ and Love Oswestry were so active, and I’m really impressed by the concept and the infectious enthusiasm of Samantha. I will now view the town centre in a different light and look forward to volunteering on future projects”.
If you’d like to volunteer with Borderland Rotary, contact www.borderlandrotary.org.uk
Samantha Jones (Love Oswestry) with Chris Bryan-Smith (president Borderland Rotary) in front of the renovated shop.
Property in Church Street before restoration.
