New bus shelters that provide real-time passenger information are being installed at Oswestry bus station in the coming days, as part of a series of planned improvements.

The shelters are being funded using Government funding.

Once the shelters are in place, work is set to be carried out that will see improvements to signage, cleaning and painting, new planters and seating, and other measures aimed at improving both the appearance of the bus station and the overall passenger experience.

These planned improvements have been made possible thanks to Shropshire Council, Oswestry Town Council and Oswestry BID working in partnership through the Future Oswestry Group.

Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said:

“It’s exciting to see work underway on the new shelters and real-time passenger information displays at Oswestry Bus Station. These are the first of similar shelters being installed across the county this summer, and will be the first visible step in a wider package of improvements in Oswestry being supported by partners through Future Oswestry Group, with further enhancements planned over the coming months to improve this important gateway to the town.”

The Mayor of Oswestry, Councillor Jonathan Upton, said:

“As a regular user of the local transport network I am pleased to see these improvements being implemented. For many reasons we need to improve the infrastructure and I welcome this investment.”

Judy Bourne, director of Oswestry BID, said:

“As a local business owner and director of Oswestry BID, I’m delighted to see partners working together through the Future Oswestry Group to improve this important gateway into the town. These improvements will help support local businesses, create a positive first impression for visitors, and demonstrate the value of partnership working for Oswestry.”

Between August and October new bus shelters are also due to be installed by Shropshire Council at locations in Market Drayton, Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Ellesmere – all funded using Government funding.

Small grants are making a big difference to Shropshire businesses, helping them create jobs, launch new products, improve productivity and plan for further growth.

The Spinney Luxury Glamping

Through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) Small Equipment Grant Scheme, businesses received between £2,000 and £10,000 to invest in new equipment or improve their premises.

Follow-up work with grant recipients shows how targeted investment has helped businesses turn practical improvements into measurable results.

Across a range of sectors, businesses have reported stronger sales, increased productivity, new product development and the confidence to expand.

In Shrewsbury, Anthony Lewis Ltd, maker of homemade kitchens and furniture, used its grant to buy a mitre guillotine, briquette machine and bandsaw. The new equipment has cut manufacturing times and helped the business turn waste wood shavings into briquettes for heating. This has created both a new product and a new income stream, while supporting the creation of an additional job.

Its owner, Anthony Dargue, said:

“The grant has made a tremendous difference to us and has enabled us to make real and positive changes in the business.”

Caviar & Cocktails also from Shrewsbury has also grown significantly since receiving support. The business has launched 17 new products, with more planned later this year, and has expanded its range to almost 30 product options through new gift set combinations. This growth has helped the company recruit new staff in sales, marketing and leadership roles, with further recruitment planned.

Alison McKenzie from Caviar & Cocktails said:

“This is a significant increase in our staffing numbers and has been made possible due to the strong business growth which has resulted from the grant award.”

The visitor economy has also benefited. The Spinney Luxury Glamping near Bishop’s Castle used its grant funding to invest in a new glamping unit, creating full-time and part-time jobs and helping the business meet growing visitor demand. It is now planning to add a fifth lodge.

Scott Higgins from The Spinney Luxury Glamping said:

“ We’ve enjoyed great success since opening in August 2024 and, with the added boost of a grant award, which helped to increase and improve our current product offer, we are looking to add yet another lodge this autumn.”

Councillor Alex Wagner, deputy leader of Shropshire Council and cabinet member for transport and economic growth, said:

“The results from these businesses speak for themselves. Relatively small grants have helped companies create jobs, launch new products, expand their operations and invest for the future. Unfortunately, this funding has now come to an end and, to date, has not been replaced. That means fewer opportunities for rural businesses to access the kind of practical support that has delivered real benefits across Shropshire.

It just proves that we need continued investment in rural economies if we are to help more businesses achieve the same success.”

 

Notes to Editors

The Small Equipment Grant Scheme was funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and provided grants of between £2,000 and £10,000 to eligible businesses across Shropshire to purchase new equipment or make improvements to business premises

The Small Equipment Grant Scheme formed part of the wider Rural England Prosperity Fund programme, which provided almost £2.9 million for rural economic development projects across Shropshire between 2023 and 2026.

Shropshire Council is investing in digital services to make it easier, quicker and more convenient for residents to access the support they need.

The Digital Roadmap, which was approved by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet today (Wednesday 5 August), sets out how the council will improve services over the next four years while ensuring support remains available for those who prefer or need non-digital routes.

The council’s aim is simple: make services easier to use, reduce unnecessary delays and provide a more joined-up experience when interacting with the council.

What are the benefits for residents?

Easier access to services

Residents will be able to access services through clearer and more consistent routes, whether online, by telephone or through face-to-face support. Finding the right service and getting help will become simpler and more straightforward.

Tell us once

As systems become more connected, information provided to the council can be reused where appropriate, reducing the need to repeat the same details to different teams and services.

Better updates and transparency

Residents will increasingly be able to track requests, applications and cases, receiving updates on progress without needing to contact the council for information. This will improve transparency and confidence in our services.

Faster responses

Better use of technology, automation and improved processes will help the council respond more efficiently, reducing delays and helping customers get to the right service sooner.

More joined-up services

Different council services will be better connected, helping to provide a more seamless experience and improving coordination where support from multiple services is needed. Appendix A – Digital Roadmap.pdf

Support when you need it

While more services will be available online, the principle remains ”digital by choice, human when it matters.” Assisted and non-digital support will continue to be available for residents who need it.

Longer-term benefits

By 2030, residents should experience:

• Simpler and more consistent access to council services
• Greater visibility of requests, cases and service interactions
• Faster and more coordinated responses
• Reduced need to repeat information
• Improved communication and proactive updates
• More preventative services that identify needs earlier and provide support sooner.

Why this matters

Cllr Alex Wagner, deputy leader of the council and portfolio holder for transformation and economic growth, said:

“The council is facing increasing demand for services and significant financial pressures. By improving how services are designed and delivered, we can focus resources where they have the greatest impact, provide better experiences for residents and create a more sustainable organisation for the future.

“This roadmap is about delivering better outcomes for residents: easier access, better communication, more efficient services and a council that is equipped to meet the needs of Shropshire’s communities now and in the future.”

You can read the roadmap on our committee webpages.

The Leader of Shropshire Council has warned that maintaining the status quo is no longer an option as the authority prepares to tackle the largest financial challenges in its history.

Speaking at Cabinet on Wednesday morning [5 August 2026], Councillor Heather Kidd said the council must embrace change, redesign services and reduce its reliance on borrowing if it is to secure a sustainable future.

The warning comes as Shropshire begins work on its 2027/28 budget and updated Medium-Term Financial Plan.

Despite having a gross expenditure budget of around £923 million, the council’s net budget is approximately £489 million. Against that, the authority is seeking around £121 million of Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) this year, equivalent to roughly 25 per cent of its net budget – the largest borrowing request in the country.

Councillor Kidd also outlined that that this budget gap could rise to 35-40 per cent of the council’s net budget by 2029/30 without significant action to reduce spending and curb demand for services in the upcoming budget.

She told the meeting that rising demand in adult social care and children’s services, coupled with inflationary pressures, means demand is increasing significantly faster than income.

She said the challenge facing the council is no longer one that can be resolved through minor efficiencies or short-term savings exercises.

Instead, she argued that fundamental change is required, including redesign of services, investment to avoidable demand through prevention and early intervention with vulnerable residents, embracing digital transformation, and devolving more powers and responsibilities to town and parish councils.

The Leader also stressed that Exceptional Financial Support is not “free money” but borrowing that future generations of councils will have to repay.

A standard Council Tax rise of 4.99 per cent would raise around £11 million in Shropshire, just under one-tenth of the authority’s net budget gap this year.

Councillor Kidd said that every service, budget and activity must now be examined through the lens of long-term sustainability, adding that “we must make difficult decisions” if the council is to avoid passing even greater financial problems on to future administrations.

She said:

“The reality is simple – the status quo is not sustainable.

“Demand for services is rising far faster than the resources available to fund them, and unless we change how we operate as a council, the financial gap will continue to widen and the cost of borrowing under Exceptional Financial Support will harm our ability to deliver services for the next 20 years.

“As we head into the budget-setting process for 2027/8, we must be honest about the scale of the challenge. That means a renewed focus on investing in prevention, embracing change and making difficult decisions where necessary to turn this around. It also means getting even tougher on where we can no longer keep spending money.

“None of these conversations will be easy, but leadership is about facing problems head on, not avoiding them. Our responsibility is to ensure that Shropshire Council remains financially sustainable and able to support residents for many years to come.”

Councillor Kidd’s opening statement to the Cabinet meeting can be seen below.

In July [2026] Cabinet considered the recommendations of the council’s Station Gyratory Task and Finish Group, and the economy and environment scrutiny committee.

At their meeting today (5 August 2026] Cabinet agreed that technical work will be commissioned to undertake a comprehensive review of the current layout and further develop alternative options. This work will focus particularly on; the existing arrangement; the introduction of a shared-use bus, taxi and cycle facility; and reverting to two traffic lanes.

It will include a programme of technical assessment and stakeholder and public engagement to enable a fully informed future decision to be made on the long-term configuration of the station gyratory.

A key outcome of the work will be the development of viable options into mature proposals, with rationale given where any option is deemed non-viable. This would be supported by clear evidence on safety, accessibility, traffic impacts, public transport performance, active travel objectives, costs, risks, funding implications and compliance with grant requirements.

Rob Wilson, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for transport and regeneration, said:

“It is important that any future changes are the right ones and do not cause unintended consequences. The purpose of this commission is not to predetermine an outcome, but to establish a robust and evidence-based process that allows Cabinet to compare realistic and deliverable options before making a final decision later this year about the best way forward.”

At their meeting in December 2026 Cabinet will consider the review’s final recommendations and decide the preferred option. If Cabinet approves a preferred option, detailed design could begin after their December meeting, with the aim to carry out statutory consultation for any proposed traffic regulation orders as early as possible in the new year, followed by any on-street changes.

Further information

The review will be delivered through six phases:

1. Review of existing evidence, monitoring data and safety information.
2. Development and refinement of options.
3. Technical assessment of shortlisted schemes.
4. Stakeholder engagement.
5. A 21-day non statutory public engagement exercise.
6. Production of a final technical report and Cabinet decision brief.

Timescales:

• August to September [2026]: Cabinet decision, agreement of scope and commission commencement. Development and refinement of options (to include consolidation of existing evidence, monitoring data and safety information and option development).
• September to October 2026: Technical assessments and option shortlisting.
• October to November 2026: Stakeholder engagement and 21-day, non-statutory public engagement plus analysis of responses. This is informal/non-statutory engagement only and would not replace any future statutory consultation required as part of implementation.
• November 2026: Preparation of final reporting and recommendations.
• December 2026: Cabinet consideration of the final recommendations and determination of the preferred option, if any, to progress to detailed design.

News from our partners (HMRC)

Working families in Shropshire are being encouraged to check if they could cut the cost of childcare this Playday (5 August), as HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) latest statistics show families using Tax-Free Childcare saved an average of almost £100 a month.

Make the most of Tax-Free Childcare

Playday, the national day for play, is a reminder for eligible parents to see if they could benefit from the scheme. Tax-Free Childcare can provide up to £2,000 per year per child (or £4,000 for a disabled child) helping manage childcare costs while balancing work and family life.

People can visit GOV.UK to check eligibility and sign-up for Tax-Free Childcare.

Once families have signed up, they can receive a £2 government top-up for every £8 they deposit into their account. Families can open an account for each of their children aged up to 11 and, if they have a disabled child, aged up to 16.

It can be used to pay for any approved childcare including nurseries, childminders, holiday clubs, breakfast clubs and after-school clubs. Almost 75,000 providers are now signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments.

While the majority of families who use the scheme have younger children, recent statistics show the number of families using it to pay for childcare for children aged 8 and above increased by more than 20% compared to the previous year.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Chief Customer Officer, said:

“Tax-Free Childcare can help with your summer childcare plans and, looking to the term ahead, with whatever type of care you require for your child. If you haven’t signed up already, do it today so you don’t miss out. Go to GOV.UK and search ‘Tax-Free Childcare’.”

Families can receive up to £500 worth of top-up money, or £1,000 for a disabled child, every 3 months.

Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in their account to use it whenever it’s needed. Unused money can be withdrawn at any time.

Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:

• have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on 1 September after their 11^th birthday. If their child has a disability, they can receive up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16^th birthday
• the parent and their partner (if they have one) earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average

• each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
• do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers

Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside the government funded childcare hours, subject to eligibility.

Notes to Editors

1. Latest Tax-Free Childcare statistics, for March 2026, were released in May 2026 and can be found here
2. More information on combining Tax-Free Childcare with other government childcare offers is available on the Best Start in Life parent hub: Childcare & Early Years Education – Best Start in Life
3. Playday – Play Wales
4. Playday 2026: Play – here, there, everywhere! — Play England.
5. Play Scotland, the national expert in Play
6. Playday – PlayBoard NI

Part of Featherbed Lane in Shrewsbury (see map) is to be resurfaced overnight from Sunday 23 to Thursday 27 August [2026] as part of Shropshire Council’s 2026/27 resurfacing programme.

Work will be carried out from 8pm to 6am each night. During these times a full road closure will be in place.

During the closures access to the work areas will be maintained for the following:

• Residents living within the closure, when safe to do so.
• Any businesses located within the closure, when safe.
• Pedestrians, dismounted cyclists and equestrians
• Emergency vehicles (blue light calls)

For all other traffic a signed diversion will be place. Depending on their vehicle type, road users may be able to choose an alternative diversion route.

People are asked to ensure vehicles are not parked on the road whilst the work is in progress.

Work will be carried out by Kier Infrastructure on behalf of Shropshire Council.

For more information visit and search the One Network roadworks website.

The work involves resurfacing the road with a new asphalt layer, applied by a paving machine and compacted to create a smooth, durable surface. Resurfacing is a key part of maintaining our roads. It improves long-term road condition, helps prevent further structural issues, and reduces the need for smaller repairs such as filling potholes.

This year more than 90 stretches of road across Shropshire are being resurfaced by Shropshire Council, and more than 70 have been surface dressed.

All planned roadworks are subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Any changes will be displayed on the yellow advanced warning signs and on https://one.network/

Ditch blocking underway – click here to watch the full video

Work is underway at Attingham Park to help restore natural water processes and reduce flood risk as part of the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) Demonstrator Programme.

The latest intervention at Fox Culvert involves blocking sections of historic drainage ditches to help hold water in the landscape for longer.

Pete Lambert, the SVWMS demonstrator project manager, said:-

“For many years, ditches were dug across farmland to move water away from fields as quickly as possible. While this improved drainage, it also meant water reached rivers faster during periods of heavy rainfall.

“Ditch blocking works by slowing that process down. Small structures are installed within selected ditches to reduce the speed of water flow, allowing water to spread naturally across the surrounding land and soak into the ground. This helps the landscape store more water and reduces pressure on rivers and the landscape during peak flows.”

The work at Fox Culvert is one of a number of nature-based solutions being delivered across the National Trust’s Attingham Estate. Alongside wetland creation, pond restoration, tree planting and woody debris barriers, the measures are designed to slow the flow of water through the catchment, helping to reduce flood risk while creating better conditions for wildlife.

Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury, sits between the Rivers Severn and Tern, where flooding can affect farmland, local communities and visitor access. By holding more water higher up in the catchment, these interventions can help make the landscape more resilient to extreme weather while supporting the National Trust’s wider plans for nature recovery across the estate.

As well as helping with water management, ditch blocking can create wetter habitats that benefit insects, birds, amphibians and other wildlife.

Tom Dainty, Shropshire Council deputy Cabinet member with responsibility for flooding, said:-

“The approach shows how relatively small changes, delivered in the right places, can work together to provide wider benefits for nature, farming and flood resilience.”

The Attingham Demonstrator Project is one of eight projects being supported through the SVWMS and managed by Shropshire Council. The lessons learned will help partners understand how nature-based solutions can be used more widely across the River Severn catchment to improve water management, support biodiversity and build resilience to future climate change.

Station Road in Baschurch is to be resurfaced from Monday 17 to Friday 28 August [2026] as part of Shropshire Council’s 2026/27 resurfacing programme.

Work will be carried out from 9.30am to 4pm each day (weekdays only). During these times a full road closure will be in place.

During the closures access to the work areas will be maintained for the following:

• Residents living within the closure, when safe to do so.
• Any businesses located within the closure, when safe.
• Pedestrians, dismounted cyclists and equestrians
• Emergency vehicles (blue light calls)

For all other traffic a signed diversion will be place. Depending on their vehicle type, road users may be able to choose an alternative diversion route.

People are asked to ensure vehicles are not parked on the road whilst the work is in progress.

Work will be carried out by Kier Infrastructure on behalf of Shropshire Council.

For more information visit and search the One Network roadworks website.

The work involves resurfacing the road with a new asphalt layer, applied by a paving machine and compacted to create a smooth, durable surface. Resurfacing is a key part of maintaining our roads. It improves long-term road condition, helps prevent further structural issues, and reduces the need for smaller repairs such as filling potholes.

This year more than 90 stretches of road across Shropshire are being resurfaced by Shropshire Council, and more than 70 have been surface dressed.

All planned roadworks are subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances. Any changes will be displayed on the yellow advanced warning signs and on https://one.network/

News from our partners: Independent Commission on Adult Social Care (Casey Commission).

Shropshire residents are being encouraged to take part in The Big Conversation on Care, a major national conversation launched by Baroness Casey of Blackstock to help shape the future of adult social care in England. 

Adult social care affects thousands of people and families across Shropshire every day. The conversation gives people the chance to say what they want and expect from a future National Care Service, including who it should support, what role families should reasonably play, and how care should be paid for in a fair and sustainable way. 

The Big Conversation will run until April 2027 and is open to everyone. People can take part online at caseycommission.co.uk/bigconversation/ (Credit: Independent Commission on Adult Social Care)

Councillor Ruth Houghton, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for social care and public health, said: 

“This is a really important opportunity for people in Shropshire to have their say on one of the biggest issues facing our country, and I would strongly urge residents to take part. 

“Adult social care supports some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. It helps people live independently, supports families and carers, and protects people when they are most in need. But it is also one of the biggest financial pressures facing councils like ours. 

“In Shropshire, social care already accounts for about two-thirds of everything the council spends. Our ageing population, the size and rural nature of the county, and the rising cost of providing care all make this challenge more acute. These are not abstract figures — they affect real people, real families and the services residents rely on. 

“That is why it is vital that the voices of Shropshire residents are heard. We need a care system that is fair, sustainable and properly reflects the needs of rural communities like ours. Please take a few minutes to share your views and help shape what comes next.” 

The Big Conversation will run until April 2027 and is open to everyone. People can take part online at caseycommission.co.uk/bigconversation/. 

Baroness Casey of Blackstock said: 

“For too long, we have been stuck in the same cycle: crisis, promises of reform, another review, and then retreat, while the people who need care, and their families, bear the brunt. 

“Social care affects every family in this country: whether we need care ourselves, care for someone we love, work in care, or pay for it through our taxes. 

“That’s why have launched The Big Conversation on Care. I want people across England to help us face the hard questions about how we can build a National Care Service. It is only by listening to the public that we can build the agreement needed for lasting reform.” 

The Big Conversation will aim to engage with one million people across England. It is open to everyone through a new online platform which has launched today at caseycommission.co.uk/bigconversation/, starting the conversation by asking people: when we are old or disabled, or have a serious illness, who should support us and how? 

The Big Conversation will conclude by April 2027. Baroness Casey has agreed to provide the Independent Commission’s recommendations by summer 2027. 

Notes to editors 

• The Big Conversation on Care will be delivered by Baroness Louise Casey as part of the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care. 

• The public can take part through a new online platform from today caseycommission.co.uk/bigconversation/ 

• The Big Conversation will run in two phases. The first phase of the conversation, from July to November, will ask people about the values and principles we should all expect from a care system and who should be eligible for support. The second will focus on how care should be funded and how reform should be delivered. 

• For media enquiries on the Independent Commission please email enquiries@caseycommission.co.uk. 

• In March, Baroness Casey recommended the Government take six immediate actions on dementia, motor neurone disease and adult safeguarding due to the urgency of the reform needed in these areas. Her recommendations can be found here: https://caseycommission.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Baroness-Casey-letter-to-Rt-Hon-Wes-Streeting-MP-March-2026.pdf 

• For media enquiries on the Independent Commission’s Terms of Reference or the Government’s response to the Commission and its recommendations, please email DHSC at press.office@dhsc.gov.uk.