What We Do
About Shrewsbury Town Council
Shrewsbury Town Council came into being on 1 April 2009 as a result of Local Government Reorganisation. The town council's area includes the whole of Shrewsbury town centre and adjoining residential areas. With a population of over 70,000 it is one of the largest town councils in England. At the same time, the existing Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council ceased to exist and the majority of that council's powers and duties transferred to a new unitary council for Shropshire. However, the town council took over responsibility for horticultural services; as well as being responsible for The Quarry, numerous small parks, sports pitches, recreation grounds, allotments and highway verges, it will strive to defend its reputation for making Shrewsbury a "town of flowers" and winners of the Britain in Bloom Competition. In addition, the council will be responsible for the provision of the town's market, community facilities, bus shelters, street lighting and public toilets.
The council elected a town Mayor and will continue the historic civic traditions upheld by former Borough Mayors. In addition it will be keen to ensure that the town's reputation as a major tourist destination and as an exceptional place in which to live and work is maintained and where possible enhanced. Therefore, staff appointed to the town council will contribute to creating a strong and economically viable town council that can develop its own identity and also help maintain and develop the town's already enviable reputation.
About Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury is a vibrant town with a long distinguished history. First recorded in a Charter of 901, Shrewsbury developed as a market town aided by the natural defensive qualities of a large meander in the River Severn. The original Castle (thought to replace a Saxon fortress) was built by Roger de Montgomery under order of William the Conqueror and was rebuilt and enlarged by Edward II. The public library, where Charles Darwin studied as a schoolboy, and the timber framed Rowley's House Museum are among a wealth of historic listed buildings on steep narrow streets and little alleyways, that make Shrewsbury a major tourist destination.
The town has a population of just over 70,000 and is surrounded by the ancient Shropshire hills of the Stiperstones, the Long Mynd, Wenlock Edge and the Wrekin. The county has a scenic landscape made famous in A. E. Housman's A Shropshire Lad. North of Shrewsbury lies the site of the Battle of Shrewsbury (1403) where Henry IV defeated the rebellious Barons of the Welsh Marches and Hotspur was killed. The town is 40 miles west of Birmingham and about 60 miles east of the Snowdonia National Park.
More recently the town has undergone considerable development in commercial and cultural areas. It is the regional shopping centre, served by numerous specialist shops as well as two main shopping centres and out of town retail parks. The town experiences a lively nightlife based around the numerous pubs, bars and restaurants. Other highlights of Shrewsbury include The Quarry (the town's municipal park designed by Percy Thrower), the Abbey made famous in the Brother Cadfael detective novels of Ellis Peters and the annual international Shrewsbury Flower Show. In addition a new purpose built theatre situated on the riverbank next to the council's offices opened in March 2009.