The schemes at The Tannery, Coton Hill House, Parish Rooms and 70 Castle Foregate were brought forward as part of the council’s response to growing housing pressures and rising temporary accommodation costs.

During 2025/26, the combined net cost of operating the schemes was approximately £249,000. By comparison, housing 100 applicants in nightly paid hotel and B&B accommodation over the same period would have cost an estimated £1.66 million.

The result is a net saving of around £1.4 million to the council overall, alongside improved outcomes for vulnerable residents.

The Tannery operated for the full financial year, with the other schemes opening during the second half of the year.

The council has also significantly reduced the number of households currently being housed in hotel and B&B accommodation, with numbers now down to around 25.

Councillor James Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for housing, said:-

“Using hotels and B&Bs for temporary accommodation is extremely expensive and, in many cases, far from ideal for the people involved.

“These schemes are helping us provide more stable, supported and appropriate accommodation for residents, while also delivering major savings for the taxpayer at a time when the council remains under very significant financial pressure.

“This shows the importance of investing in prevention and local solutions rather than continually spending large sums on costly emergency accommodation.

“We still have challenges ahead, but reducing the number of households in B&Bs to around 25 is very significant progress and something everyone involved should be proud of.”

Some of the financial savings relate to reduced Housing Benefit subsidy loss within the council’s wider enabling budget, alongside direct savings to housing services.

The schemes form part of the council’s wider programme of financial recovery and service reform, aimed at reducing long-term costs while improving support for residents facing homelessness or housing insecurity.

Click here to read the letter in full

Leaders of Shropshire Council and Powys County Council have written to His Majesty The King to highlight the work of the Marches Forward Partnership, following his recent address to the United States Congress.

In a joint letter sent on 11 May 2026, Councillor Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council, and Councillor Jake Berriman, Leader of Powys County Council, noted the King’s call to recognise the importance of protecting nature as a foundation for prosperity and long-term security.

Writing on behalf of the Marches Forward Partnership, a collaboration between Shropshire, Powys, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire councils, the leaders said his message closely aligns with their work alongside business and infrastructure partners to strengthen the rural economy across the England/ Wales border.

In their letter, they highlight the Partnership’s ambition to position the region as the “Capital of Rural Britain”  – a practical approach to putting rural needs, natural assets and infrastructure at the centre of economic decision-making.

They promoted the region for being rich in “rural capital”, including land, water, food systems, energy and infrastructure, which are vital to underpinning national food security, water resilience and critical services.

The leaders stressed that these natural and built systems are not separate from the economy, but form its foundation.

Heather Kidd, Leader of Shropshire Council, said:-

“His Majesty’s words were a powerful reminder that we cannot separate the health of our environment from the strength of our economy. In this region, we see first-hand how flooding, water pressures and changes to our landscape affect people’s lives and our local economy. The Capital of Rural Britain is about responding to that challenge in a practical way. Bringing together nature and infrastructure means we can protect what we have while building a more secure and resilient future for our communities.”

Jake Berriman, Leader of Powys County Council, said:-

“The King’s message about recognising nature’s own economy strongly reflects what we are trying to do.

“By treating our natural assets as part of our economic foundation, the Capital of Rural Britain approach shows how rural areas can lead the way in delivering sustainable growth and long-term resilience.”

Their letter also pointed to the growing challenges facing the region, including flooding, water stress and ecological decline, and the impact these pressures can have on communities, supply chains and economic growth.

At the same time, they highlighted the opportunity to address these challenges through integrated, place-based approaches that protect and restore natural systems while supporting sustainable growth.

As part of this work, the Partnership is already testing new approaches through initiatives such as the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme, which explores how natural and engineered solutions can be embedded into long-term planning and investment decisions.

The letter concludes that safeguarding nature should not be seen as a barrier to growth, but as the foundation for a more secure, resilient and prosperous future.

Councillors Kidd and Berriman said they hope the Partnership’s work will resonate with the King’s longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable development, and have offered to share further detail on their approach.

The Marches Forward Partnership’s ambition is to develop a model that can be replicated across rural Britain and beyond – demonstrating how environmental resilience and economic growth can go hand in hand.

Shropshire Council is inviting carers to join in the celebrations of Carers Week 2026, an annual campaign to raise awareness of unpaid carers, and to help people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

The council’s carers support team has organised a range of events and competitions to recognise and support unpaid and family carers in the community.

The theme for this year’s carers week focuses on the power of Building Carer Friendly communities and the real, lasting difference they can make to the lives of unpaid carers.

Ruth Houghton, portfolio holder for adult social care, said:

Unpaid carers are the backbone of many families across Shropshire, supporting family and loved ones to remain living their own homes close to family and friends and in their local community.

We want carers to know they are seen, valued and supported. Carers Week is a chance to say a sincere thank you, and to make sure people who may not identify themselves yet as a carer are aware of the help available.

We’d encourage carers to take some time for themselves, join in with the activities organised for Carers week, and make contact with the Carers Support Team at Shropshire Council for advice, information and support.

Carers week is our opportunity to say thank you to all unpaid and family carers in Shropshire.  We do recognise and appreciate the valuable support carers give others.

From Sunday 7 June to Sunday 14 June 2024, the council’s carers support team has organised a range of activities across Shropshire.

Details of activities and programme can be found What’s happening – latest news and events | Shropshire Council

Events include a plant fair, painting for pleasure session, singing for wellbeing, creative writing and yoga. The programme of activities is here.

To book a place on any of the activities on the programme, please email: shropshire.carers@shropshire.gov.uk or call 01743 341995

Network Rail – through their contractor Amco Giffen – will be carrying out essential maintenance works to the Castle Foregate and Great Western railway bridges in Shrewsbury between May and September [2026]. The Great Western bridge is set back from the road on Castle Foregate between Star BBQ Kebab and The Shrewsbury Ark.

The work is scheduled to be carried out between 23 May and 11 September. It will include cleaning, repairing, and repainting parts of the bridges, as well as undertaking necessary steelwork repairs. These activities are important to ensure the long-term safety and integrity of the structures.

As part of the project, the existing pigeon proofing panels will be replaced with new mesh to address the problem of pigeons roosting and fouling under the bridge.

During the work the bridges will remain open to vehicles during daytime hours. However, the work will require the closure of Castle Foregate, Cross Street and Howard Street on a limited number of occasions overnight to allow the workforce to safely erect and remove scaffolding, and to prepare and paint the structures.

During these closures, a signed diversion route will be in place, and access for emergency services will be maintained at all times. The fire service have been engaged with directly to mitigate the impact of the work. To minimise the impact of this work on road users Shropshire Council has also been working closely with Amco Giffen, Network Rail, the emergency services, local businesses and the local councillor.

For the duration of the scheme, the footpath on the station side of Castle Foregate/Castle Gates will be closed to pedestrians, with an alternative signed pedestrian diversion route provided directing pedestrians to the footpath on the opposite side of the road.

David Vasmer, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways, said

“We appreciate that the area has recently undergone significant work and we have been working closely with the emergency services, local businesses and others to ensure that they are aware and informed and have the chance to raise any concerns in advance. This scheme has been programmed to minimise impact as far as possible, with most activity taking place at night and the bridges remaining open during the day.”

Overnight road closures will be required for five consecutive weeks commencing Sunday 7 June. A further two-week period of overnight closures, operating Sunday to Thursday, will be required during the final two weeks of the scheme. These closures are required to facilitate the erection and dismantling of scaffolding.

During these periods, Castle Foregate, Cross Street and Howard Street will be closed overnight Monday to Thursday, between 8pm and 6am. There will be no overnight road closures on Friday nights, and a pedestrian footway will remain open during these overnight closures.

In addition, throughout the duration of the scheme and commencing on Sunday 24 May, early-morning road closures will be required on Sunday mornings only, between 12.30am and 7am. These closures are scheduled during the early hours to provide the longest continuous period when no trains are running, which is necessary for certain elements of the works to be carried out safely. Any further overnight closures required to accommodate the pigeon mesh works will be communicated in advance.

Residents, businesses, and the emergency services will be notified directly, and advance warning signage will be installed on site prior to the work commencing.

The 18th Century Shirehall which opened in 1785

A new exhibition at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery celebrates the remarkable civic buildings that have shaped local government in Shropshire for centuries.

On display until 17 June, the exhibition traces the evolution of civic architecture from Shrewsbury’s Norman castle, through medieval guildhalls and subsequent Georgian,19th‑century and modern civic buildings.

Together, these buildings reveal how justice, education and public services have been organised, delivered and symbolised in Shrewsbury across the ages.

The exhibition is a collaboration between Shrewsbury Civic Society and Shropshire Museums and tells the fascinating story of local government buildings through the centuries using images, film, and museum objects and explores artistic responses to the former Shirehall at Abbey Foregate. Artists have depicted the building using a wide range of media, including watercolours, acrylics, photography & pen and ink.

Phil Scoggins of Shrewsbury Civic Society said:

“Civic buildings reflect the architectural language of their time. In Shrewsbury, our historic civic buildings chart the development of local government itself – from medieval guildhalls that combined commerce, governance and ceremony, to Georgian buildings designed to project stability, authority and public trust. These places functioned as practical centres where staff administered the county’s affairs, and were also settings for ritual and ceremony, reinforcing a shared sense of civic life.”

Deputy Portfolio Holder for Housing and Leisure, Cllr Jeremy Blandford said:

“What is particularly striking about this exhibition is the detail it reveals about Shrewsbury’s historic civic buildings. Shropshire Council is very grateful to Shrewsbury Civic Society for their collaboration on this project. Their deep knowledge, research and commitment to Shrewsbury’s heritage have been invaluable in bringing these stories to life and ensuring they are shared with residents and visitors alike.”

The exhibition is free to visit, with donations welcome to support the work of Shropshire Museums.

For more information, visit Public Places: The Evolution of Shropshire’s Civic Buildings – Shropshire Museums

About the image:

The 18th Century Shirehall, The Square, by John Hiram Haycock, which opened in 1785

By the late 18th century, it was clear that the old guildhall was no longer matched the town’s fashionable Georgian image. In 1782, a visiting judge had, in the words of a contemporary, ‘well bollocked’ the town’s grand jury for the Guildhall’s poor, cold and inconvenient accommodation. The following year the town was fined for its inaction. In response £11,000 was spent by the county and borough authorities on a new Shirehall.  This fine classical building, designed by John Hiram Haycock, opened in 1785.

The Shirehall was sited on the corner of the Square, which was now open to the High Street, as it is today.  Inside were the court rooms with prisoners’ cells below. The first floor, accessed by a fine spiral staircase, had a large meeting room, a grand jury room, records room and offices. Unfortunately, due to the lack of solid bedrock below the square, the new Shirehall was constructed on a wooden raft.  The building soon began to subside, and cracks appeared in the walls.

By the 1830s Haycock’s Shirehall was in a serious structural state and Thomas Telford and Sir Robert Smirke, architect of the British Museum, both advised that the building was unsafe and that repair was not feasible. It was soon demolished and Smirke was commissioned to design its replacement.  Fragments of the fine frontage still survive and can be seen at Abbey Gardens by the English Bridge Campus of Shrewsbury College.

Clun Bridge is set to close from 26 to 29 May [2026] for essential maintenance.

The work will involve taking down and rebuilding a section of the upstream left parapet, resetting displaced copings and general pointing work.

To carry out the work safely the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from 9.30am to 4pm each day.

When the road is closed, traffic will be diverted by a signed diversion route. For more information, please visit https://one.network

Access over the bridge for pedestrians and dismounted cyclists will remain available throughout the works and access to frontages will be maintained up to the bridge closure.

Inevitably there will be some disruption during the work but every effort will be made  to minimise inconvenience.

The work will be carried out by Shropshire Council’s contractor Kier, with supervision being provided by WSP on behalf of Shropshire Council.

To inform the public of the proposals, advance notice signs will be erected at the bridge and an information letter delivered to local properties.

News from our partners

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, the UK’s national week to raise awareness of mental health.

Training is available to become an Orange Button holder

Hosted by the Mental Health Foundation, the week runs from 11–17 May 2026 and this year’s theme is “Every action counts – for yourself, for someone else, for all of us.”

This Mental Health Awareness Week, people are being asked to join together in taking action to support good mental health. Even small actions can help us feel hopeful and less powerless – and while our individual actions matter, when we come together, we’re even more powerful.

In Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin health and care partners are using the week as a call to action to help prevent suicide, encouraging more local people to join the Orange Button Community Scheme.

Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin has higher-than-average suicide rates when compared to the England average, and partners are highlighting the importance of community-based suicide prevention, including supportive conversations, reducing stigma, and helping people access the right support.

What is the Orange Button Scheme?

The NHS-backed Orange Button Community Scheme, launched locally in 2025, trains people to listen, support and signpost if someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts. Orange Button Holders may wear an orange button or display it in a workplace, car or window to show they are a safe person to talk to.

There are currently over 250 Orange Button Holders across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and partners want to significantly grow the network. In a local recent survey, around 50% of Orange Button holders reported they have used their Orange Button and associated training in a suicide prevention context.

Call to action: take training, start conversations, help save lives

Local partners are encouraging everyone to “Let’s Keep talking” – because words matter when working to prevent suicide. With training and support, more people can feel confident to have compassionate conversations and help someone find the right help at the right time.

Orange Button training is available virtually or face-to-face. On completion, participants can apply to receive an orange button and join the voluntary scheme.

Find out more and sign up: www.shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk/your-health/where-to-get-advice-and-help/mental-health-services/orange-button-community-scheme/

What local leaders are saying

Priya George, Clinical Lead for Mental Health at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said:

“Mental Health Awareness Week reminds us that every action counts. Suicide prevention is not something services can do alone, it relies on people across our communities feeling confident to listen, to talk, and to help others find support. The Orange Button Scheme is a powerful example of how small, compassionate actions can make a real difference.”

Rachel Robinson, Director of Public Health for Shropshire Council, and Helen Onions, Director of Public Health for Telford and Wrekin Council, said:

“Every action counts and one supportive conversation can be life-changing. By growing the Orange Button Community, we can make it easier for people to speak openly about suicidal feelings, know they’re not alone, and be signposted to the right services. We’d encourage individuals, employers and community groups to take part and help build stronger, safer communities.”

Vicky Dudley, Learning and Development Officer for Shropshire Council, delivering Orange Button Training locally, said:

“You may have seen people wearing an orange button and wondered what it signifies. It shows that the person wearing it is trained and available to talk if someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts. We want to increase the number of button holders. I’d encourage anyone who can spare the time to undertake the training and help make support more visible in our communities.

“Button wearers are not counsellors, but they are trained to listen and to signpost people to relevant services, and we hear time and again how that has made a real difference.”

Support information

If you or someone you know needs urgent help:

• Call 999 if someone is in immediate danger or needs emergency medical help.
• Call Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7) or visit samaritans.org.
• Contact NHS 111 and selection the mental health option (option 2)
• Text STW to 85258 to receive support for your mental health at any time of the day or night. For further information, click here.

Some of the SVWMS team who attended the show in 2025

The Severn Valley Water Management Scheme (SVWMS) team will be at this year’s Shropshire County Agricultural Show to talk with visitors about progress on the scheme and what has been learned from a successful year of demonstrator projects across the Upper Severn.

The team will be on hand to speak with show visitors and exhibitors about how SVWMS is working with local communities, farmers and landowners to test practical approaches to managing water more naturally, while supporting wider benefits for people, places and the environment.

Over the past year, the SVWMS Demonstrator Programme, managed by Shropshire Council, has delivered a number of projects designed to test how an integrated approach to water management can work in practice. These projects are helping to build the evidence base for nature‑based solutions, showing how working with natural processes can reduce flood risk, improve resilience and bring wider environmental benefits.

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

“The past year has been a really important one for the demonstrator projects. They’ve moved from testing ideas to seeing real, on‑the‑ground results, and that’s helping to prove the value of nature‑based solutions as part of a long‑term approach to managing water in the Severn catchment.

“The projects are giving us practical evidence about what works, where it works best and how it can be delivered in partnership with the people who live and work on the land. That learning is now directly shaping the next stages of the scheme and helping the SVWMS team make more informed decisions about future options.”

The SVWMS is continuing to develop its long‑term water management strategy and will be engaging with communities and stakeholders on the next phase of work, informed by the lessons learned from the demonstrator projects.

As well as attending the Shropshire County Show, the team will also be at the Royal Welsh Show later this summer.

People can keep up to date with progress on the scheme, as well as upcoming events and opportunities to get involved, via the SVWMS website.

The Shropshire County Agricultural Show takes place at the West Mid Showground, Berwick Road, Shrewsbury, on Saturday 23 May.

About the SVWMS: The SVWMS is a cross-border initiative led by the Environment Agency, in partnership with Natural Resources Wales, Powys County Council, and Shropshire Council, and funded by Defra. Its aim is to develop a holistic water management strategy for the upper Severn, which could serve as a model for similar projects nationwide.

To learn more about the SVWMS visit: Have Your Say Today – Severn Valley Water Management Scheme – Commonplace

News from our partners

Eligible people are being invited to get their spring COVID‑19 vaccination as the NHS launches the next phase of its seasonal protection programme.

Think vaccination this spring

People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 6 months and over with a weakened immune system will be offered a dose of coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine this spring

The spring dose is being offered to those at highest risk of serious illness from COVID‑19, including adults aged 75 and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and people aged six months and over with a weakened immune system.

Vaccinations are available through booked appointments as well as a number of convenient walk-in clinics making it easier than ever for people to protect themselves.

Dr Steve Fawcett, local GP said:

“It’s important to remember that COVID-19 isn’t just a winter illness. Even in the spring and summer, it can still pose a risk to those most vulnerable, including older adults, care home residents and people with weakened immune systems.

“The spring vaccination offers vital protection against different variants of the virus, helping to reduce the risk of catching and spreading COVID-19, as well as lowering the chance of serious illness and hospitalisation. I’d encourage everyone who is eligible to come forward.”

Rachel Robinson, Director of Public Health and Matthew Missen, Consultant in Public Health for the cluster of NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, said:

“We know people lead busy lives, so we’ve made it as easy as possible to get the spring COVID-19 vaccination, including convenient walk-in clinics.

“Protection can reduce over time, so it’s important to top up your immunity when you’re eligible. You don’t need to wait for an invitation – you can book online, use the NHS App or call 119. By coming forward, you’re not only protecting yourself, but also helping to protect those around you.”

Eligible individuals will be invited for vaccination by their GP practice, via the NHS App, or by text or letter. Anyone who believes they are eligible but has not yet been contacted can check their eligibility and find out how to get vaccinated on the NHS website or speak to their GP practice.

The NHS is also encouraging those aged 75 and over, all residents in a care home for older adults (including those under 75 years of age) and pregnant women from 28 weeks to get the RSV vaccine by booking an appointment with their GP practice or speaking to their maternity services. Those eligible for both COVID-19 and RSV vaccines may be able to receive them at the same appointment.

For information about local walk-in vaccination clinics in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, visit: COVID-19 Vaccination Walk-in Clinics – NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

For information about local walk-in vaccination clinics in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, visit: https://staffsstokeics.org.uk/your-health-and-care/vaccinations-and-immunisations/seasonal-vaccinations/walk-in-vaccination-clinics/

For information about the COVID-19 vaccination, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/

For information about the RSV vaccination, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/rsv-vaccine/

Shropshire Council is working with Church Preen, Hughley & Kenley Parish Council to pilot a new community led ‘road warden’ scheme, giving local people a greater role in keeping their roads, verges and public spaces safe, clean and well maintained.

The scheme will enable trained volunteers, coordinated by the parish council, to carry out a range of small scale highway and street scene tasks at agreed locations across the parish. The pilot is designed to tackle minor issues more quickly, improve the appearance of the local area and strengthen partnership working between communities and the council.

The pilot scheme is based on the Devon Road Warden Scheme which has been running successfully for several years, with several parishes taking on agreed local road maintenance functions in collaboration with Devon County Council.

Under the scheme, volunteers will be able to carry out clearly defined, low-risk activities such as litter picking, sign cleaning, minor vegetation trimming, leaf clearance and the reporting of highway defects. In limited, approved circumstances, volunteers may also undertake very small pothole repairs on footways and quiet roads using cold lay materials.

A key first task is to ‘get the water off the roads’ by fixing ditches and drains to clear road surfaces of water, helping to prevent potholes and enabling maintenance work to be carried out. Priorities have been identified through lane-by-lane surveys conducted by the parish council.

All activity will operate within a robust governance framework, as with the proven Devon scheme. Volunteers will receive appropriate training, wear mandatory personal protective equipment and work only within a tightly controlled scope. Activities involving live carriageways, working at height or power tools will not be permitted unless specifically authorised.

David Vasmer, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and environment, said:

“This pilot scheme offers a number of benefits, including a faster response to small issues, more cost-effective maintenance that will reduce the pressure on Shropshire Council resources, and cleaner, safer and more attractive roads and verges. It will also strengthen the relationship between Shropshire Council and the parish council, ensuring shared responsibility for public spaces.

“If other parish councils are interested in setting up their own road warden scheme I encourage them to contact us.”

Chris Naylor, Shropshire Councillor for Burnell, said:

“We’ve been working towards this for a year now: my first parish council meeting here said ‘we want to help fix our roads locally, as our councillor please help us do that’. So I’m very pleased that Shropshire Council officers have been supportive, arranging training, kit and signs for our new road wardens. My greatest thanks is to local volunteers including farmers, builders, parish councillors who are kindly giving up precious time to clear muddy ditches and get muck out of drains: to ‘get the water off the roads’, so the council can get on with necessary maintenance.”

Richard Roycroft, chair of Church Preen, Hughley & Kenley Parish Council, said:

“We’re very concerned about the state of our lanes here locally. Residents understandably complain about road surface and pothole problems. Visitors often sadly incur tyre and wheel damage and local businesses suffer.

“So we’re keen to do our bit here to ‘get the water off the roads’ – then Shropshire Council can come and fix the lanes. I’ve been checking ditches and drains and clearing those is top priority. We were delighted to get nearly 40 residents to a local volunteers meeting. We’ve now had our training and we’re very pleased to be making a start.”

The next phase of developing partnership working with parish and town councils will be lead by Alex Wagner, deputy Leader of Shropshire Council.

Further information

The pilot scheme aims to:

• empower the parish council to address minor issues more quickly;
• improve road safety and the appearance of local streets;
• encourage community involvement and civic pride; and
• support environmental goals, including the protection of wildlife verges and green spaces.

Shropshire Council will provide oversight, technical guidance, waste collection and other practical backup [eg. drainage teams coming in to clear drains that the wardens can’t fix] for works delivered through the scheme. The parish council will coordinate volunteers, ensure appropriate insurance is in place and keep clear records of activity and outcomes.

The pilot will be closely monitored, with success measured through a range of indicators including response times, the number of issues resolved, community participation and resident feedback. Learning from the pilot will help inform decisions on whether the scheme could be expanded to other parishes in the future.

Residents will continue to be able to report larger or safety critical highway issues through Shropshire Council’s normal reporting channels, with parish road wardens acting as additional ‘eyes and ears’ at a local level.