Latest news with #Oakengates
BBC News
09-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Oakengates Town Council submit plans to move library
Plans have been submitted to give a library a brand new home, as part of a town's major two-year Town Council is taking ownership of the library, currently located at community venue the Wakes, from Telford and Wrekin the plans would see it moved into new units on 6-8 Limes new units would be delivered as part of the Theatre Quarter regeneration project, which also includes an indoor seating area and pedestrianised area outside. Telford and Wrekin Council said the that taking ownership would ensure the library service which is "essential" would plans have been submitted for the change in use of the units, and is set to be completed and ready for opening "later in the year", it added."The library is temporarily located at the Wakes," the town council said."Relocating it to Limes Walk will make it much more accessible, giving residents access to an improved library and ICT services, educational and job search resources, together with essential first-point facilities for residents of all ages."This is a significant step forward in securing the library's future and the services it provides to our residents and visitors." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
16-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Telford beekeeper gets free Greggs coffee after rescuing high street shops
A beekeeper has come to the aid of a row of shops that were closed because of a swarm of bees and was rewarded with a free coffee from Emms, from Priorslee Honey in Telford, said he got the call from another shop on Market Street, in Oakengates, on said it appeared the bees had left a nest and were attempting to set up a new colony, but once he had captured the queen they all peacefully followed her into a Emms is on a list of swarm collectors set up by the British Beekeepers Association and said once the street was clear someone from Greggs came out to offer him the drink as a thank you. The staff member told him they had enjoyed their 20-minute break, he said, but were grateful the bees had gone."It was mostly about keeping people safe," he said, adding that no-one had been like this are not unusual, but Mr Emms said it was rare to find bees swarming near shops, rather up a tree or in someone's garden. He said swarming typically occurred when a surplus queen bee leaves a hive with part of the colony to set up a new one somewhere beekeeper, who sells his own honey from nearby Priorslee, said when bees did this they had "nothing to defend so tend not to be too aggressive". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Shropshire traders worried about town centre regeneration
Businesses in a Shropshire town centre that is being redeveloped have asked for extra support from their local in Oakengates, Telford, began in 2023, and traders have said it has caused shoppers to stay work, which also involves the building of a new theatre, is due to continue until the end of Carter, the leader of Telford and Wrekin Council has said the project will be a "real game-changer" for the town and has promised to listen to businesses and offer them support where possible. Sarah Williams, who runs Business Retreat Boutique in Oakengates, said the problem was not just the disruption caused by the building work, it was the perception of the town said: "The problem is people don't think there is anything here any more."Ms Williams said there needed to be campaigns to "highlight what we have in the town". Nigel Booth from All Floors and Rugs has been in Oakengates for 23 years and said recently he had noticed "people are not coming in to the shop to actually buy our rugs".He said: "We were told this rebuilding project was going to enhance the footfall, but to date it just seems to be deteriorating.""It just seems to be a continual building project," he added. Mal Johnson from Kings Fashion has a more optimistic view and said: "It is going to look really nice when it's finished, so we've just got to ride it out."But he said he had seen a decline in footfall. He also said he had met with the council to suggest more information signs to tell people how the work would improve said people needed to know it was "not just shutting down". Mr Carter said his authority was "committed to high streets", but the old Limes Walk precinct in Oakengates, which was built in the 1960s, had "seen better days".He said the redevelopment was part of a "huge programme" of investment, which included the £24m theatre, and that he believes it will give the town a "real bounce" when it is complete."The long term aim here is to make sure Oakengates is a thriving place," he the meantime, he told traders: "Just keep talking to us because we'll do as much as we can with whatever tools we've got available to help us to support businesses through this difficult period."That support could take the form of grants, he said, but he also wanted to hear their suggestions."We don't want to do this to affect footfall or affect businesses in any way," he said. Mr Carter also said he would push to make sure the work finished on time and within said his authority had a track record of making this happen. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
