It is hoped the new park will be available for public use by the end of September
An overgrown patch of forgotten land is about to get a new lease of life as a “pocket park”.
The vacant site in Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, currently fenced off between Hair 21 and the railway bridge, will be transformed into a welcoming public space.
There will be planting and a seating area installed at the front, and a community garden behind it for those who live in the town centre but lack garden space.
The space will also feature free high-speed public WiFi, lighting, secure cycle storage and a Brompton bike hire station.
The land is owned by The Buttermarket’s owner Martin Monahan, who will coordinate the setup of the space.
He will work with the Shrewsbury Men’s Shed, a charitable group aiming to tackle loneliness by bringing men together to work on practical projects.
Work will begin later this week to clear the site, with phase one involving the removal of fencing before groundworks begin.
The project is funded by the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan Partnership, backed by capital funding from the UK government through the UKSPF Supporting Local Community & Place Fund. The partners expect the space to be available for public use by the end of September.
Emma Molyneux, project lead, Shrewsbury BID, said: “Lots of us walk past this bit of land every day and don’t think twice about it. It is fair to say it’s not the prettiest corner of Abbey Foregate at the moment.
“By turning it into a pocket park, with somewhere to sit and somewhere to grow things, we will make a genuine improvement to the local street scene – and offer a much more pleasant welcome to the town.”
Mr Monahan said, “I’ve owned this land for many years, and I’m delighted to make it available free of charge to Shrewsbury BID and work with local partners to transform it into a welcoming green space.
“It will give something back to the community, enhance the Abbey Foregate area and encourage more people to cycle. I’m really excited to see the project come to life.”
Councillor Rob Wilson, portfolio holder for Transport and Regeneration with Shropshire Council, said: “This is a wonderful example of town centre regeneration – a local landowner, a community group and the Big Town Plan partners all working together to turn a forgotten and disused corner into somewhere people will genuinely want to spend time. It’s a brilliant addition to everything else happening on Abbey Foregate.”