Town council criticises tourism plan for county

Town councillors have criticised a document aimed at shaping the future of tourism in the county.

Ellesmere Town Council said north Shropshire had been "neglected" from Shropshire Council's new Destination Management Plan (DMP) and its park and lake The Mere was mentioned without specific details.

"I don't think there's a clear identity and north Shropshire has been totally missed out," said town councillor Anne Wignall.

Shropshire Council said it valued all feedback on the plan. The consultation ends on 2 February.

Ellesmere Town Council criticised the document when discussing and completing the survey at a recent town council meeting. Members felt attention was focused on Shrewsbury and the south of the county.

Councillor Naomi Proffitt added that, while The Mere was mentioned, it did not go into much detail about how big it was.

"There's a lot of people who come here to walk along the canal," she said.

The DMP aims to raise the county's profile among visitors, ensure it is accessible and inclusive and that tourism has a sustainable impact from 2026 to 2029.

Shropshire councillor Rob Wilson said it was a "comprehensive strategic document" designed to outline key priorities for shaping the future of Shropshire's visitor economy.

He said the authority invited the public and stakeholders to take part in the public consultation for the new plan to ensure it is "well-informed".

"We highly value all feedback on the plan and are committed to addressing any specific and strategic concerns," Wilson said.

"Once the plan is approved, we anticipate that partners across the county will leverage it to inform their own local priorities and development plans," he added.

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