Work to improve the heritage heart of Oswestry has been welcomed.

The Oswestry and District Civic Society today (Wednesday), said they support the work of the local councils and the Oswestry BID in putting grant funds to work in the High Street Heritage Action Zone.

The move by both groups was confirmed last year after it was announced the town would benefit from a slice of £40 million funding from the government.

David Ward, spokesman for the Civic Society, said: "It has long been the view of the Civic Society that the pedestrian environment in parts of the town centre are in urgent need of improvement.

“Spending money on heritage improvements will be made more effective if accompanied by changes to make the centre a more pleasant place.

"In the absence of funding for the changes which really need to be made, the society is making proposals for changes which could be made at little or no cost to make the town more welcoming for its users."

Some of the proposals being suggested include alternating pelican crossing to change signals immediately rather than making pedestrians wait; increasing footpath space outside areas such as Greggs and Meraki Colour on Church Street; making Leg Street one-way northwards between the junction of English Walls and Oswald Road by diverting traffic from Oswald Road on to Black Gate Street; and when resurfacing roads using porous asphalt, which is a quieter surface, making the centre a quieter place to be.

Mr Ward added: "The society looks for a positive response from the Future Oswestry Group and the local councils."