Firefighters returned to a former builder's yard in Telford for the third time in less than a week on Wednesday evening after reports of rubbish alight in a vacant steel framed building Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.comand on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Firefighters returned once again to the former home of Wrekin Building Supplies off Stafford Road in Oakengates on Wednesday evening At around 7.47pm Shropshire Fire and Rescue received a call reporting a fire involving rubbish within a vacant steel framed buildings It's the third time in less than a week that the emergency services were called to the disused builder's yard Last Thursday, April 24, firefighters were called to the yard to tackle a fire that involved several tyres that were "well alight" inside one of the derelict buildings A spokesperson for Shropshire Fire and Rescue said there were "approximately 20 metres by 30 metres of tyres well alight" fire crews returned to the scene after reports of a fire within the derelict two-storey property on the site The vacant site has been subject to two failed planning applications in recent years The first, submitted in January 2023 proposed building 30 apartments on the site but it was withdrawn in March after attracting a number of objections from local residents and Oakengates Town Council parking and the number of proposed apartments The second application, submitted in December 2023, proposed building 25 apartments but was again withdrawn the following January following similar objections Shropshire Fire and Rescue station manager attended Wednesday's fire with two crews from Telford Central Station and was asking residents to report any "suspicious activity" to 101 West Mercia Police have been approached for comment We use cookies on our website to give you the best experience possible, find out more here Extra Care Charitable Trust is the latest business to temporarily relocate while renovation works are carried out to transform Oakengates town centre Extra Care’s Oakengates charity shop which aims to create better lives for older people has moved to 33 Market Street from 39 Market Street Dated units on Market Street and Limes Walk are being converted into modern retail spaces with new residential units above as part of the Oakengates Theatre Quarter project which aims to boost footfall into Oakengates Theatre Quarter is the area between the theatre in Oakengates and The Wakes which includes Limes Walk where the shop frontages and units have been refurbished to increase the attraction for shoppers and visitors extensive improvements are being made to the fabric of the buildings on Limes Walk - including the installation of solar panels resulting in significantly improvement energy efficiency ratings Phase One of the project was unveiled recently highlighting how the overall scheme will transform the centre The Council is also transforming other areas in the centre of Oakengates by delivering a new theatre a rejuvenated high street and new public event space Redevelopment work is being funded by the Towns Fund – a £3.6 billion programme to regenerate towns across the country – with Telford given £22.3 million This project aims to create a better Oakengates giving residents an attractive place to live and work in which they can be proud of It’s all part of a wider Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme which is seeing significant investment and transformation in other areas of the borough including a series of redevelopment programmes in Wellington and Station Quarter in Telford Town Centre Telford & Wrekin Council is investing a total of £250m (£52m from government funding and the council and public and private sector match funding) over the next three years into these projects to build a better borough breathing new life into some of Telford and Wrekin’s most historic buildings and safeguarding its future for generations to come Plans for the Theatre Quarter project in Oakengates include: Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for the Economy "This latest relocation represents another positive step in our mission to revitalise Oakengates making it a thriving hub for both businesses and our community “The Theatre Quarter project has already made a huge difference to the overall look and feel of the town after Phase One was unveiled “The refurbishment of the shop frontages and units is making Oakengates a much more attractive place for shoppers which will hopefully boost the town’s  economy overall.” Oakengates Shop Manager for Extra Care Ltd “The Extra Care Charitable Trust is excited to be part of the regeneration of Oakengates Town centre “We would like to thank our loyal customers and donors for their continued support while this development is taking place and we are look forward to the restoration of Oakengates town centre “We rely on donations of good quality clothing and household items to raise funds for our charity and encourage people to continue to shop and donate with us during this period of transition.”  You can find out more about the Oakengates Theatre Quarter project here: Theatre Quarter - Telford & Wrekin Council Firefighters returned to a former builder's yard in Telford on Sunday evening after reports of a fire involving car parts and a disused building Telford firefighters returned once again to the former home of Wrekin Building Supplies off Stafford Road in Oakengates Get the latest headlines delivered straight to your inbox with the Shropshire Star’s free newsletter Shropshire Fire and Rescue received a call reporting a fire in once of the disused buildings at around 8pm on Sunday Two fire appliances were sent to the site from Telford Central Station and reported the scene under control by 8.22pm A spokesperson from the fire service reported West Mercia Police were also at the scene It's at least the fourth time in recent days that firefighters have been mobilised to the former builder's yard On Thursday, April 24, firefighters were called to the yard to tackle a fire that involved several tyres that were "well alight" inside one of the derelict buildings Just two days after that, on Wednesday, April 30, firefighters tackled a pile of burning rubbish which was alight in a vacant steel framed building The police said they were aware of the incidents and had increased the number of patrols in the area A spokesperson from West Mercia Police said: "There have been a number of fires at this location recently and additional police patrols are being carried out "Donnington and Trench Safer Neighbourhood Team are working with design out crime officers and partners including the local council to secure the site.” The second application, submitted in December 2023, proposed building 25 apartments but was again withdrawn the following January following similar objections attended last week's fire with two crews from Telford Central Station and was asking residents to report any "suspicious activity" to 101 The first phase of Telford & Wrekin Council’s Theatre Quarter project which is transforming Oakengates town centre has been revealed The hoarding from Units 10 to 22 Limes Walk has been removed by the Council’s appointed contractor Morris Property to reveal the development which is taking shape behind them – the conversion of dated 1960s retail units into modern retail units with new residential units above extensive improvements have been made to the fabric of the building including the installation of solar panels resulting in significantly improved energy efficiency ratings Some of the first businesses which were temporarily relocated while the renovation works were being carried out are starting to move back into their new look units with more to follow as further units are released from the development which includes Limes Walk where the shop frontages and units have been refurbished to increase the attraction for shoppers.  The Theatre Quarter project aims to regenerate the town centre and boost footfall into Oakengates – transforming the 1960s shopping precinct into a modern welcoming shopping experience for residents and visitors Redevelopment work in Oakengates is being funded by the Towns Fund – a £3.6 billion programme to regenerate towns across the country – with Telford given £22.3 million to regenerate Telford Town Centre Other plans for the Theatre Quarter project include: – The creation of ten new first floor sustainable residential units (mix of one and two bed) providing new homes in the centre of Oakengates delivered for Telford & Wrekin Council’s wholly owned housing company – Removal of the existing shop canopy to open up the area improve natural light to the retail units and create a lighter more welcoming pedestrianised area directly outside the shops – Development of a new enlarged public space to facilitate the hosting of events and activities including an enhanced market This Oakengates project is part of a wider Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme which is seeing significant investment and transformation in other areas of the borough including Station Quarter in Telford Town Centre and Wellington Telford & Wrekin Council is investing a total of £135m (£52m from government funding and the council and public and private sector match funding) over the next three years into these projects to build a better borough This project aims to create a better Oakengates, laying foundations for the future giving residents opportunities to learn new skills enjoy top cultural activities and live in an attractive place which they can be proud of said: “It’s fantastic to see the transformation of Oakengates and the removal of the hoardings around the first phase of the Theatre Quarter project which has already made a huge difference to the overall look and feel of that part of the town “The refurbishment of the shop frontages and units is making Oakengates a much more attractive place for shoppers and will increase footfall to the town’s high street overall “The redevelopment of Oakengates is all part of a wider Investing in Telford and Wrekin project to transform other areas of the borough as well as Oakengates including Telford Town Centre and Wellington bringing opportunities for people to learn new skills enjoy top cultural activities and live in an attractive place they can be proud of.” Senior Contracts Manager at Morris Property said: “We’re pleased to have reached the stage of revealing the first phase of the Telford & Wrekin Council’s Theatre Quarter project “Seeing the transformation of Limes Walk from 1960s units to vibrant retail spaces with modern flats above will attract new businesses and residents ultimately boosting the local economy and creating a more welcoming space for the community.” Shropshire Live has been providing Shropshire news and entertainment since 2009 We reach tens of thousands of readers per month making us the biggest online-only news publication in the county You can now also 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secure browsing experience creating a new modern facility for generations to come The project in Oakengates will deliver new state-of-the-art theatre facilities and enhance the visitor experience with work expected to start in the new year New facilities include a larger main auditorium modernised backstage facilities and a separate studio theatre which can support community groups and smaller acts theatre dining area and new bar with upgraded amenities Telford Theatre will be offering a more diverse cultural programme with the expansion of the main auditorium and new studio theatre which will benefit existing theatre patrons and attract new audiences from locally and beyond The visitor experience will also be enhanced with new fully accessible facilities and a front of house hospitality offer Telford & Wrekin Council has received £15.5m from central government and topped up the total funding investment to deliver the project The majority of the theatre in Oakengates will be completely rebuilt transforming both the exterior and interior of the building The new facility will reduce the theatre’s carbon footprint with an estimated 90% reduction and support the local economy by delivering new jobs and increasing volunteering opportunities at the theatre Plans have been shaped following extensive consultations with residents Consultations included a public event and a community survey completed by 597 people in December 2023 and a consultation session held with the disabled community on 21 March 2024 For further information about how comments have influenced the design visit: Telford Theatre - Telford & Wrekin Council This Oakengates theatre development is part of a wider Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme which is also seeing significant investment and transformation in other areas of Oakengates and the borough including Telford Town Centre and Wellington Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure "We’re delighted that plans to remodel Telford Theatre have been approved meaning work starting on this exciting project is a step closer “This is extremely positive news for Oakengates and is all part of our commitment to build a better borough through the wider Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme “The programme is breathing new life into some of our most historic buildings creating new spaces for the future and providing opportunities to learn new skills enjoy top cultural activities and live in an attractive place we can all be proud of “The new theatre will make Oakengates a more exciting and vibrant place to be and boost the local economy as well as reducing the theatre’s carbon footprint considerably.” Read the theatre planning application here. Find out more about the theatre project and what it will deliver here: Telford Theatre - Telford & Wrekin Council Photo: An artist’s impression of the new theatre frontage The first of one of Telford & Wrekin Council’s ‘20 pledges in 20 weeks’ has been delivered this week with the reopening of the swimming pool at Oakengates Leisure Centre After 10 months of improvement works and a programme of carbon neutral work the site reopened on Monday 22 July on schedule and in time for the summer holiday The investment of £2.2 million at Oakengates Leisure Centre has included work to the gym and swimming pool and the work will improve the experience for users reduce energy consumption and upgrade the Energy Performance Certificate Part of the decarbonisation work has included the installation of heat pump technology replacing the pool liner and pool surround with resin compound installing an energy efficient roof covering and new ceiling and insulation in the pool area “It has been fantastic seeing the pool open and in use again Families can enjoy some great activities over the holidays swimming lessons are restarting here on 29 July and we welcome back some of our former aspirations members as well as new members keen to take advantage of a leisure facility on their doorstep.”  This work is part of Telford & Wrekin Council’s ‘20 pledges in 20 weeks’ campaign which will see the local authority deliver 20 actions on the things that matter most to local people during the first 20 weeks following Cllr Lee’s Carter’s appointment as Leader on 18 July The pledges reinforce the council’s ongoing commitment to protect care and invest to create a better borough Residents can track the council’s progress on its 20 pledges. Work will soon be starting on the mammoth project to almost entirely rebuild Telford Theatre in Oakengates spaces on the Oakengates Threatre Slaney Street car park will be reduced in order to make way for the construction compound The theatre in Oakengates closed in March last year as work on the redevelopment of Oakengates town centre got underway Plans to almost entirely rebuild the theatre were included in the town centre-wide redevelopment, to deliver what the council called "upgraded state-of-the-art facilities" The plans included the construction of a new two-tiered main theatre auditorium to seat 756 people it looks like work is getting ready to begin with Oakengates Town Council warning residents and visitors that parking on the town's largest car park will be reduced A spokesperson for Oakengates Town Council said: "Please note that from Sunday spaces on the Oakengates Theatre Slaney Street car park will be reduced by 30 "This is so Kier Construction can set up their compound adjacent to the theatre and commence phase 1 of Telford & Wrekin Council's exciting plans to remodel the theatre "There are a number of alternative car parks in Oakengates which offer long stay parking including Limes Walk Telford & Wrekin Council in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Interfaith Council funded by the Inclusive Communities Fund are providing free family art workshops this October half-term in Wellington and Oakengates Families and children over five can sign up to join a workshop where they will be guided by an artist through the process of making a willow stick lantern Children must be accompanied by a helpful adult so they can make their lantern together we will be celebrating with a Telford Interfaith Festival of Light Lantern Parade on Friday 1 November at 5.30pm in Bowring Park Wellington where all lanterns can be proudly displayed Councillor Raj Mehta Cabinet Member for Inclusion Equalities & Civic Pride and Chair of Telford Interfaith Council said “I’m proud that Telford & Wrekin Interfaith Council are able to support these creative workshops in Wellington and Oakengates for this October half-term It’s a great opportunity for families to do something together that is a little different to the usual.” For more information and to sign up to a workshop; Saturday 26 October at Telford and Wrekin Interfaith Council, Wellington Sunday 27 Oct – Wednesday 30 October at Telford Theatre, Oakengates Councillor Angela McClements Cabinet Member for Leisure Culture & the Arts said “These lantern making workshops are a fabulous opportunity for your family’s creative side to come out as the lanterns can be decorated in any way you like so I’ll be looking forward to seeing all the different patterns and styles that the children come up with Lantern making is a popular craft in the autumn as the nights draw in.” There will be an evening celebration of light with a magical parade of the lanterns on Friday 1 November at 5.30pm in Bowring Park To join in the parade you must have booked onto a family lantern making workshop These workshops are being delivered in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Interfaith Council funded by Inclusive Communities Fund  - a legacy of the Commonwealth Games a fund made available by UK Government through the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) overseen by West Midlands Combined Authority Two cars collided during rush hour in Telford today The crash involving two saloon cars happened soon after 6pm at the roundabout connecting Station Road and Lion Street in Oakengates A Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service crew was sent from Telford's central fire station to make the vehicle safe and remove debris from the road A Telford nursery that was forced to relocate due to major redevelopment work has re-opened inside its new facility on the site of a former care home Telford & Wrekin Council announced today (February 24) that Oakengates Nursery School has officially began operating from its new facility which has been built on the former Cartlidge House site The nursery was forced to vacate its previous base within Telford Theatre which is being regenerated as part of the town’s Theatre Quarter project The theatre is due to reopen in October 2026 after a £26million rebuild which includes a larger main auditorium and community arts room The council said Oakengates Nursery School's new facility is a third of a mile from its previous location and was funded by the council and Central Government funding The nursery's new facility has been designed to have a capacity of 108 children The local authority said the new facility includes landscaped outdoor spaces to "encourage exploration and play" and learning environments that "provide a welcoming space for children and staff" Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Children Councillor Shirley Reynolds said: "The Oakengates Nursery School relocation is part of our vision to create a modern immersive learning environment that fosters early childhood development and supports the needs of families in the community "The relocation ensures that Oakengates Nursery will continue to serve the community with the same intake capacity but with enhanced resources and facilities "This project reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality early education and supporting the growing needs of local families across Telford and Wrekin and we are delighted to see this outstanding new facility open." The council added that work is "moving at pace" to transform Oakengates town centre Work includes the conversion of retail units which date back to the 1960s into modern units with apartments above alongside improving the appearance of shop frontages in a bid to make the town centre more appealing to visitors who officially handed over the keys to Oakengates Nursery School said: "We're delighted to have delivered this high-quality nursery facility for the children at Oakengates Nursery School "It's been a rewarding project and we’re pleased with the finished result We hope the children flourish in their new surroundings and enjoy all the opportunities this space provides." Telford & Wrekin Council has moved a step closer to transforming Telford Theatre after submitting plans for the remodelling project which will support the ongoing regeneration of Oakengates town centre The Council has been awarded £15.5m from government funding and has topped up the total funding investment to £21.07m remodel and expand the theatre and the Council is now seeking planning approval on the proposals It follows the latest consultation with residents including a public event and a community survey completed by 597 people in December 2023 and a consultation session held with the disabled community on 21 March 2024 transforming both the exterior and interior of the theatre and creating a new customer experience The new facility will also reduce the theatre’s carbon footprint with an estimated 90% reduction It will deliver upgraded state-of-the-art facilities including a larger main auditorium modernised backstage facilities - as well as a separate studio theatre and a new community art room which will provide a new space for community groups to perform Facilities will enhance the overall visitor experience and will include a newly transformed foyer a theatre dining area and new bar with upgraded amenities The theatre development will support the local economy by delivering new jobs and increasing volunteering opportunities at the theatre The cultural programme will be enhanced with the expansion of the main auditorium and the introduction of the new studio theatre which will benefit existing theatre patrons and attract new audiences from locally and beyond - ensuring there is a modern theatre in Telford for many years to come there was an opportunity for the public to view the initial proposals and share their feedback to inform the designs before plans are submitted for consideration Key findings from the consultation included: many other insightful comments were received about the proposed changes and these have helped to inform the next stages of design One of the key themes which arose was ‘Access to facilities for the disabled community’ Making the new theatre spaces as accessible and inclusive as possible for all is a priority and thanks to comments and suggestions made by the local community the design for the theatre has been improved further The consultation findings are available on the theatre webpage along with responses to comments raised during the consultation For further information about how comments have influenced the design visit: Telford Theatre - Telford & Wrekin Council Work on Telford Theatre will start (subject to planning approval) in winter 2024 This Oakengates development is part of a wider Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme which is also seeing significant investment and transformation in other areas of the borough including Telford Town Centre and Wellington Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Action said: "Following an extensive consultation period the submission of plans to remodel Telford Theatre now means work starting on this exciting project is a step closer “This is extremely positive news for Oakengates and is all part of our commitment to build a better borough through the wider Telford regeneration programme “The programme will breathe new life into some of our most historic centres create new spaces for the future and provide opportunities to learn new skills “The remodelling of Telford Theatre is part of our commitment to deliver ‘go-to’ places for socialising and where residents and visitors can enjoy arts and culture “This theatre project will make the borough a more exciting and vibrant place to be and boost the local economy Or you can find out more about the theatre project and what it will deliver here: Telford Theatre - Telford & Wrekin Council The first shop within a new-look town centre has opened its doors Work to redevelop Oakengates town centre has hit an important milestone this week with the opening of its first store The ambitious project that is seeing the transformation of the 1960s shopping precinct began in autumn last year Dubbed the 'Theatre Quarter', work is underway to regenerate the area between the theatre and the Wakes as well as parts of Limes Walk and Market Street fourteen new shop frontages will be created along with ten residential units and a new public space for hosting events and activities - including an enhanced market which is seeing several units on Limes Walk transformed into new retail spaces with six residential units above is almost complete opened the doors to its refurbished shop on Monday morning old home" - having moved back into the same unit they left last year while work was underway we've lost upstairs for storage but the shop is so large We've had such positive comments from everyone We're still us but on a much larger scale." With the scaffolding finally down outside too shoppers are getting their first look into new Oakengates "The difference to Oakengates already is nuts," said Jane but once they see how it looks they'll change their tune It's got that wow factor - I don't think anyone was expecting this Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for the economy said: “We’re delighted to see the first business move into their new unit in Oakengates this week “This move is one of several business relocations during phase one of the Oakengates Theatre Quarter project which is transforming ground floor retail units and refurbishing 14 shop frontages to make Oakengates a much more attractive place for shoppers and increase footfall to the town’s high street Firefighters were called to a home in Telford after a fire involving items on a first floor balcony The Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 8.46am reporting the house fire on Station Approach in Oakengates Two fire crews were sent from Telford Central Fire Station to the scene Reports from the fire service said the fire involved items that were being stored on a first floor balcony Firefighters used a hose reel jet to extinguish the fire Two-way traffic lights are set to be in place for over a month as work to improve the safety of a popular hiking and cycling trail continues in Telford Stafford Road in Oakengates will be the third road in the town to recieve a new pedestrian crossing in recent months It's all part of plans to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists walking the Silkin Way trail which were included in Telford & Wrekin Council's Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan in 2022 A pedestrian crossing on Canongate was installed in November, while works to install the crossing on Station Hill are currently taking place Three-way traffic lights are in place on Station Hill at its junction with Willows Road while Silkin Way is currently closed to traffic The road works are set to finish on Friday Two-way temporary traffic lights will then be put in place between February 10 and March 14 on Stafford Road when work will get started on the final pedestrian crossing of the scheme The work will also see the widening of the footpath along Stafford Road towards Oakengates widened to 3 metres as well as the installation of new pedestrian guardrails Oakengates Nursery School has reopened in a brand-new purpose-built facility on Charlton Street this week Contractor Morris Property has officially handed over the keys to the nursery which has been built on the former Cartlidge House site just a third of a mile from its previous location next to Telford Theatre The project is part of the larger redevelopment of the theatre marking a significant investment in the area Telford & Wrekin Council and Central Government funding has supported the nursery development which underlines the Council’s commitment to providing children with the best possible start in life this new state-of-the-art Oakengates Nursery School facility features modern amenities tailored to early year’s education landscaped outdoor spaces to encourage exploration and play dedicated parking for ease of access and learning environments which provide a welcoming space for children and staff The new nursery will play a key role in addressing the needs of the local community by supporting children’s early development with cutting-edge learning environments and providing nearby schools with convenient access to high-quality early years education Telford & Wrekin Council’s Cabinet Member for Children “The Oakengates Nursery School relocation is part of our vision to create a modern “The relocation ensures that Oakengates Nursery will continue to serve the community with the same intake capacity “This project reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality early education and supporting the growing needs of local families across Telford and Wrekin and we are delighted to see this outstanding new facility open.” This relocation is part of a wider investment in Oakengates and Investing in Telford and Wrekin programme which is also seeing significant investment and transformation in other areas of the borough including Telford Town Centre and Wellington The Oakengates investment projects include the transformation of Telford Theatre to include a new auditorium elevating the cultural and educational offerings in the town Work is also moving at pace to transform Oakengates town centre through the Theatre Quarter project – converting 1960s retail units into modern units with apartments above as well as improving the appearance of shop frontages to make the town centre more appealing to visitors said: “We’re delighted to have delivered this high-quality nursery facility for the children at Oakengates Nursery School “It’s been a rewarding project and we’re pleased with the finished result We hope the children flourish in their new surroundings and enjoy all the opportunities this space provides.” Police are appealing for the public's help in identifying people who they believe could help with their enquiries into five shop thefts in Telford The police reference number is 22/83598/24 Anyone who has any information that would help identify the people pictured should email RetailCrimeTelford@westmercia.police.uk Alternatively, if you have information but don’t feel comfortable speaking to police, you can speak to the independent charity Crimestoppers. It is anonymous, they never ask your name, and they cannot trace your call or IP address. You can contact them online or by calling 0800 555 111 Councillors have approved plans to redevelop Telford Theatre in Oakengates after amendments were made to increase parking for visitors and residents Telford Theatre closed in March this year as work on the redevelopment of Oakengates town centre got underway Plans to almost entirely rebuild the theatre were included in the town centre-wide redevelopment to deliver what the council called "upgraded state-of-the-art facilities" The plans included the construction of a new two-tiered main theatre auditorium to seat 756 a reconsultation has been underway over parking and transport arrangements after the original plans One resident of nearby Slaney Street - who said they use the car park outside the theatre to park near their home - raised concerns that residents would have to accommodate extra parking on their streets Others pointed to the lack of public transportation which they claimed was "virtually non-existent" in the evening The revised plans include the addition of 32 more parking spaces including six new spaces in New Street car park 14 as overspill at Hartshill Park and one additional space in the main Slaney Street car park They also included a travel plan - which planning officers called "comprehensive and detailed than is typical at this stage" The travel plan revealed that 10 per cent of visitors were estimated to use alternative transportation options than cars but it was hoped that introducing measures would increase this to 20 per cent Measures include "improving the wayfinding between the theatre and key transport hubs" and working closely with Arriva to coordinate bus arrivals and departures with performance start and finish times The revised plans went before Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee on Wednesday where the council's planning officers recommended them for approval said he was "encouraged by the efforts" of the applicant to revise parking and transport options while Councillor Peter Scott said the plans would be a "huge boost to Oakengates" The committee voted unanimously to approve the revised plans A Telford road that makes up part of a popular hiking and cycling trail is due to be closed for 19 days Plans to install three new crossing points along the Silkin Way walking and cycling trail were included in Telford & Wrekin Council's Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan in 2022 The three new pedestrian crossings were set for the Oakengates area on Stafford Road Canongate and Station Hill as part of the plan to "improve provisions for pedestrians and cycles across the borough" The three sites were identified as suitable locations for improved crossing points routes to "improve the safety of cyclists The pedestrian crossing on Canongate was installed in November while work on the Stafford Road crossing is due to take place in February Work on the Station Hill crossing is set to begin next week the road - also called Silkin Way - in St Georges will be closed from Station Hill to Redland Industrial Estate from January 6 The highway improvement works are being undertaken by Balfour Beatty on behalf of Telford & Wrekin Council and are set to last for 19 days It's expected that the work will finish and the road will reopen on Friday Station Hill be under the control of temporary traffic lights while the crossing is installed at the junction of Willows Road and Silkin Way Two-way temporary traffic lights will also be in place between February 10 and March 14 on Stafford Road when work will get started on that pedestrian crossing The Stafford Road work will also see the widening of the footpath to 3 metres and the installation of new pedestrian guardrails Several buses in Telford will be diverted as three weeks of roadworks get underway A road in Oakengates will close for around three weeks to allow for highway improvement works to take place for around 400 metres with its junction with Station Roundabout The closure will be in place for 24 hours a day and it's expected that the road will reopen on August 11 directing traffic via Greyhound Roundabout A spokesperson for Arriva said: "From Monday "Journeys from Telford Bus Station will divert via B5061 Holyhead Road Lion Street resuming normal line of route on Uxacona Way "Journeys towards Telford Bus Station will divert via Lion Street B5061 Holyhead Road resuming normal line of route from the Greyhound Island." Police have caught a rider seen 'wheelieing' an off-road bike on a main road The incident took place in Oakengates in Telford and police said they had caught up with the person responsible and issued them with a Section 59 - meaning the vehicle can be seized if they continue An update provided by Ketley & Oakengates PCSO Kristin Wills said the individual had been identified by members of the public She said: "The Ketley and Oakengates Safer Neighbourhood Team would like to thank members of public in coming forward following our appeal to identify the rider of an off road bike which was captured on dash-cam riding illegally and dangerously in Oakengates "As a result the person has now been issued with a section 59 We hope this will highlight that reports of off road bikes being used illegally are taken seriously and we will always aim to identify perpetrators and deal with them." The region's police say they seized more than £500,000 in funds during raids on businesses used for money laundering West Mercia Police said its officers had raided properties across Shropshire, including Oakengates as well as Herefordshire and Worcestershire in March as part of a targeted effort to combat criminal gangs using barbershops and other businesses as fronts for fraud 33 warrants were executed across all three counties focusing on gangs exploiting barbershops and other premises to conceal illegal cash flow A spokesman for the force said: "While these businesses appeared legitimate, they were, in reality, tools for financial crime. we seized over £500,000 in illegal funds and £16,000 in cash and arrested four individuals Trading Standards carried out three warrants and Immigration made three further arrests." The force said its Economic Crime Unit is 'leading the way' nationally in tackling financial crime more than £6 million in criminal assets have been seized disrupting the financial networks that support organised crime said: “Organised crime groups are opportunistic and exploit legitimate businesses The high cash turnover of these businesses makes them ideal for disguising illicit activities “Our work during the operation sends a clear message to these crime networks: we will not tolerate criminal activity in our communities 34 intelligence reports have been submitted helping to build a stronger intelligence picture and supporting future operations “Community intelligence played a key role in this operation Some of the information used to plan these raids came from public tip-offs and we encourage anyone with information about businesses involved in money laundering to report it.” Anyone with information about businesses involved in fraud, money laundering, or the sale of illicit goods, can report it online, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online. Police are appealing for information after the rider of an off-road bike was captured driving "dangerously" on a road in Telford Police in Telford have shared images of an off-road motorcyclist after they were spotted driving illegally on a road in Oakengates happened on Hartshill in Oakengates at around 2.20pm on Wednesday A spokesperson for Ketley and Oakengates Safer Neighbourhood Team said: "The bike not only was riding illegally on the road but was dangerously pulling a wheelie coming over the brow of the hill going down Hartsill "We are appealing for information as to who this individual may be if you own one of these bikes you are not insured to ride it on the road You must only use them on private land with the landowners permission "There are official places locally where they can be ridden so it should not be a debate of ‘give them somewhere to ride’ "Also very often these bikes are ridden by riders who do not hold driving licences - adding to the danger they pose to other road users and pedestrians." Those with information are asked to email opspree@westmercia.police.uk - the dedicated inbox for Op Spree an operation targetting the use of off-road bikes Two food businesses have been told urgent improvement is necessary after scoring a zero rating in their hygiene reports  A Telford road had to be swept free from debris after a crash involving two cars on Friday evening The collision at the Station Road Roundabout in Lion Street, Oakengates occurred just after 6pm, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said A spokesperson said the crash involved two saloon cars "The fire service made the vehicles safe and removed debris from the highway," the fire service said A car caught light at a petrol station in Telford on Friday morning Shropshire Fire and Rescue service said the incident at the Shell petrol station in Ketley occurred around 8am Two fire crews attended the Hollyhead Road petrol station a spokesperson said and found a car "25 per cent alight" The blaze was extinguished by fire crews using two breathing apparatus and one hose reel jet adding the incident was declared over at 8.17am Pictures show the car involved had been a white hatchback The petrol station had been closed earlier in the week after a BMW hit a residential building on Hollyhead Road next door to the Shell Garage on Sunday The car was removed from the property only on Thursday All railway lines between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury were blocked for about two hours earlier today due to an emergency 'incident' near the railway in Telford Transport for West Midlands announced at 11.41am: "Train services between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury are at a stand due to a lineside incident." Electronic noticeboards at railway stations along the line said the incident was near the railway line in Oakengates A further update said: "Replacement buses have been ordered to run between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury. Customers can also use their rail tickets on Arriva buses in the Telford area; and any reasonable alternative Transport for Wales train service." Meanwhile West Midlands Railway said: "Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury all lines are blocked "Train services running through these stations may be cancelled or delayed Disruption is expected to last until around 2pm today (December 5)." The incident was resolved and the lines reopened by about 1.30pm Emergency services have been approached for comment Cannabis plants with an estimated value of more than £520,000 were seized after a drugs bust in Telford this morning The warrant was carried out at a property on Holyhead Road in Oakengates by Telford’s Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team (NCFT) It is estimated the street value of the plants could be worth up to £526,000 was arrested on suspicion of the production of cannabis at the address Another man aged 45 and a woman aged 46 were arrested at a second address also on suspicion of production of cannabis All three remain in police custody as enquiries continue said: “We are determined to make Telford a safer place for people to live and work and this warrant shows that we will listen to our communities and continue to act upon the information provided to us “Drugs have a negative impact on our communities and can lead to other localised criminality and the harm and exploitation of vulnerable people.” The warrant forms part of Operation Target which sees West Mercia Police focus on targeting those intent on committing a range of serious and organised crime offences You can follow updates about Operation Target across the region on social media by searching for #OpTarget Anyone with any information in relation to drugs supply can contact West Mercia Police via westmercia.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/ information about drug dealing can be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting crimestoppers-org.uk Firefighters were called to a derelict outbuilding in Telford after a fire involving a mattress The Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 2.45pm reporting the fire on New Street in Oakengates Two fire crews were sent from Telford Central Fire Station to the scene Reports from the fire service said the incident within a derelict outbuilding involved a fire consisting of "a mattress and domestic items" Firefighters extinguished the fire using one hosereel jet whilst wearing breathing apparatus A man found hiding in the loft of a house in Telford when police raided it and found 99 cannabis plants has received a suspended prison sentence Altin Nela was found trying to escape into the house next door as officers raided the property at Greenfields in Oakengates at 6am on May 23 this year, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard They discovered 99 plants across four of the five rooms in the house and £876.77 in cash. When they took Nela's phone, car and house keys they found another £4,005 in the vehicle. Nicholas Berry, prosecuting at the sentencing hearing on Thursday, said: "He was hiding in the corner of the loft trying to escape through plastic sheeting into the house next door. "Police concluded that the street value of the cannabis was between £24,920 and £74,760." CloseDrone footage captured by Network Rail has captured the scale of a landslip on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton rail line About 5,000 tonnes of material is thought to have moved following the collapse near Oakengates on 8 March The engineer leading repairs said it was the biggest landslip he had dealt with in his career Rail services are expected to be out of action until the Easter weekend with buses brought in to ferry passengers between Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRead descriptionExplore moreDrone reveals scale of rail line landslip 00:00:20Drone reveals scale of rail line landslip 0:20Up Next Rockfall caught on camera at popular beach 00:00:39Rockfall caught on camera at popular beach 0:39Watch: Warnings as three rockfalls block beach 00:00:30Watch: Warnings as three rockfalls block beach 0:30Garden drops by 50ft after landslip 00:01:29Garden drops by 50ft after landslip 1:29Watch: Landslip resident fears for home 00:00:36Watch: Landslip resident fears for home 0:36Editor's recommendationsWatch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 00:01:44Watch: BBC reports from pier 33 - the gateway to Alcatraz 1:44Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 00:01:25Watch: Prince Louis steals the show as royals mark VE Day 1:25Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster Video 00:01:21Watch: How Lady Gaga's record-breaking concert almost ended in disaster 1:21'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 00:01:20'Trump was the game-changer': Three things to know about the Australian election result 1:20Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 00:02:54Prince Harry 'can't see a world' where his family will visit the UK 2:54Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 00:01:32Watch: Key moments from the local elections.. 1:32Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 00:01:11Watch: Reform by-election win raises questions for Labour and Tories 1:11Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 00:00:50Russell Brand's court appearance explained.. 0:50Ros Atkins on.. What's in the US-Ukraine resources deal 1:23Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 00:01:18Kamala Harris hits out at Trump in first major speech since losing election 1:18Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released 00:00:46Watch: Moment Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi is released A former nursing home site which has been described as a ‘sitting target for vandalism and arson’ could home a children’s nursery Telford & Wrekin Council has submitted plans for Cartlidge House in Oakengates to become a nursery school using two demountable buildings The nursing home has been empty for over two years and is due to be demolished this spring The council has now earmarked the site to be the new home of Oakengates Nursery School which was previously based at the town’s theatre building due to the theatre regeneration and refurbishment project the nursery The new theatre plans do not include a nursery there would be a large number of children left without a nursery placement should the relocation be unsuccessful,” says a planning statement submitted by the council the relocation of the nursery to Cartlidge House site will breathe life back into the space which is currently a sitting target for vandalism and arson “The re-use of a brownfield site is preferable to that of using nearby greenfield The creation of the nursery is essential to ensure that the educational provision is still available for the young children of the local area “Proposals will provide a fantastic facility and environment for learning and growth with the potential for greater levels of outdoor engagement “It is hoped that the new proposed site will offer greater outdoor play options and feel a lot more suburban within its context than the current site “The timescales in which this project needs to be delivered means that the use of demountables is imperative.” Plans state that the main body of the nursery will be housed within a refurbished demountable stretching the length of the former Cartlidge House footprint The existing outdoor play equipment and a further single classroom demountable is proposed to be transferred from the current site The council states that the new single-storey buildings proposals will be ‘far less dominant’ than the previous care home which was two and three stories in height The current car park at the site is proposed to be increased in length to provide spaces for up to 21 cars The council also proposes to build a new widened footpath link connecting the site’s car park to the existing public car park off Hartshill the existing theatre car park is a five-minute walk from the site The planning application documents state that the new nursery provision is ‘almost like-for-like’ from the previous building They state that the only spaces ‘slightly smaller’ are the snack prep kitchen The council adds that the plan provides an increase in the outdoor play area with a bigger grassed area than is currently available The council added: “A number of alternative sites were considered within Oakengates however all were deemed unsuitable due to either lack of space “The bowling green at Hartshill Park was highlighted as an unused and clear site and its potential in terms of location we have explored a further option on the former site of Cartlidge House developed and agreed with the nursery and education department to ensure it meets all their requirements is functional and provides an open and inclusive learning space.” Plans can be viewed on the Telford & Wrekin Council planning portal on their website Any comments need to be made during the consultation phase which ends on April 5 The engineer leading repairs said it was the biggest landslip he had dealt with in his career ShareSaveArson and campfires ruled out after moorland blazeShropshire Fire and Rescue Service says the cause of the fire remains unknown. 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Plans for a major multi-million pound re-development of a town-centre have been approved by councillors Telford & Wrekin Council has welcomed the approval of what it describes as "ambitious" plans for Oakengates but the scheme has previously been criticised over the number of businesses which will need to relocate The council proposals include a major re-design of the area outside the former Place theatre – now known as Telford Theatre They will see six business units on Limes Walk and Market Street demolished as part of a plan to create a new public area – with proposals for a weekly street market and to host community events Under the scheme 14 other retail units will be refurbished while ten first-floor residential properties – one and two bedroom flats – will be created Papers prepared with the planning application said the development is focused on "bringing the theatre and Market Street closer to the High Street helping to consolidate the town centre" Telford & Wrekin Council said it wants to "increase footfall and transform the 1960s shopping precinct into a modern A report from the council said that the ambition is to "improve the appearance of the town centre" The proposals were approved by the council's planning committee this evening In a statement following the decision the council said that the scheme will be "delivered in a phased approach between summer 2023 and 2025" adding that the first phase will start this summer The statement continued: "This is alongside further plans to improve the theatre the public space and the development of a new weekly street market which will be held in Theatre Square." the council's Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services which would benefit the area for "generations to come" He said: "This is a fantastic outcome for Oakengates The transformation of Oakengates high street will not only bring economic benefits but also enhance the area for residents and visitors alike We are committed to supporting the local community and delivering projects that make a real difference "The project is expected to create new job opportunities and improve the overall shopping experience for visitors The plans have been carefully designed to assist the relocation of existing businesses so that we retain these while incorporating modern amenities and facilities future-proofing Oakengates for generations to come Sarah Williams Chair of Oakengates Chamber of Trade also hailed the approval of the plans She said: "This is great news for the businesses of Oakengates The transformation of this key part of the town will create a vibrant shopping district that will attract more visitors and boost the local economy "Our committee members strongly support the idea of a weekly street market and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Telford & Wrekin Council and Oakengates Town Council to develop these plans." said he was "delighted" to see the proposals come to fruition He added: "This is an exciting step forward for our community and we are looking forward to the positive impact it will have on our town.” Nearly 2,400 properties in Telford were hit by a power cut this morning The National Grid website reported a fault on the underground network which was reported to them at 11.11am They had engineers on the case and the numbers affected by the power cut quickly reduced from the original 2,393 in the TF2 Priorslee/Oakengates area The company said: "The incident was raised at 11.11am this morning affecting 2,393 properties We successfully restored all supplies in the area by 12.53pm this afternoon "We are sorry for any inconvenience that was caused by the power cut." A leisure centre swimming pool is on track to reopen in the summer after the first phase of work to make the centre more eco-friendly was completed Work is currently under way to decrease the carbon footprint of Oakengates Leisure Centre in Telford The full works will include work to the exterior of the building to reduce its carbon footprint and essential maintenance work to the swimming pool which is expected to reopen in the summer It is all part of the council's aim of being carbon neutral by 2030 the gym was temporarily moved to the Tennis Centre whilst refurbishment work was carried out The fitness centre has now reopened at the main site Work on the pool includes the installation of a new air source heat pump a refurbishment of the pool plant and pool surround and an upgrade to the thermal fabric of the pool roof Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet member for climate action heritage and leisure said: “It’s great to see users and aspirations members back in the gym at the main site utilising the facilities "This planned investment into our leisure services will ensure that we are offering facilities to benefit the health and wellbeing of our residents We continue to work towards our target of our operations to be carbon neutral by 2030 "The work at Oakengates Leisure Centre is part of a wider package of activity in our Carbon Neutral plan." track and tennis centre will remain open throughout the work to the swimming pool Plans for a nursery close to a town centre have been signed off Proposals will see a former furniture warehouse building on Cockshutt Road in Oakengates converted into a nursery school The nursery will be open from 7.30am until 6pm from Monday to Friday and have enough space for 32 pupils “The former warehouse and external parking area is presently in a shabby state of repair while the site is overgrown with vegetation to the eastern periphery,” said the application’s design and access statement The applicant is Kaleidoscope Childcare Ltd an accredited and established provider of nursery places with nearly 30 years experience It currently runs two nurseries in Shifnal “Kaleidoscope identified there was a need for nursery places in this area," the design and access statement said “This is a provision for Oakengates and surrounding areas to be welcomed and fully supported.” St Georges & Priorslee Parish Council raised no objection but raised concerns about the amount of car parking available The council’s highways authority initially raised concerns about a ‘lack of drop off space’ on the site for users The applicant said that on enrolling their children parents will be asked to park in the public parking area and use the ‘correct crossing areas to maintain children’s safety’ “Parents will be asked to comply with parking arrangements in their parent contract with the nursery,” the application added The nursery will offer four staff parking spaces with a fifth space for ‘occasional staff use’ The council said it believed the nursery would be able to function safely without having a severe negative impact upon the highway network Part of the plan includes building new pedestrian crossing points to allow for ‘easier access’ to the site Plans were supported by the Telford & Wrekin Council’s planning committee in June and have now been signed off Telford Theatre is closing its doors next week so surveys can begin ahead of redevelopment work starting in the autumn Work to remodel the Oakengates theatre will result in an increased capacity of 750 people in a two-tiered main auditorium Proposals include a new bar and dining facility a small studio theatre and improved backstage areas The project has received £15.5million of Levelling Up funding from central government and Telford & Wrekin Council is contributing £1.5m Telford Theatre closes on March 23 and is due to re-open in October 2026 said the council was ‘confident’ it had a new location for the library in Oakengates when the facility moves next month “There are a number of tenants we need to work with to make sure they’re re-located,” said Councillor Healy A planning application for the remodelled theatre is set to be submitted in the next month The council is already going through pre-application processes to ‘understand the constraints and what from a planning point of view is acceptable and what isn’t’ The application will include detailed drawings of the proposed work and will be an opportunity for further comments to be made A recent consultation about the plans saw 597 responses and 74.9 per cent thought that ‘remodelling the theatre would bring more visitors to Oakengates supporting local businesses’ Councillor Healy said that the results were ‘really positive’ and followed on for regular surveys of theatre visitors “We’ve known for a few years that things like toilets and refreshment facilities were things that people would give us feedback on that they wanted to see improved,” added the cabinet member “We’ve got lifts and provision for disabled access but it’s a bit clunky and not as easy as it could be We’ve known for some years that those things are problematic and from the types of acts that we try to book that the size of the auditorium can sometimes limit us and the backstage facilities “We started off from knowing those things and last year we did some high-level concept drawings before a consultation which started to firm things up “It wasn’t a case that we landed lucky that people agreed with what we said it’s been a journey of listening to customers to understand what they want and then shaping the project around that.” Councillor Healy said they are now considering more detailed elements of the theatre like the types of seating after that it’s a case of how far the budget will stretch in terms of the nature of the seating and layout,” she added Concerns were raised during the consultation phase about the availability of car parking spaces following the redevelopment “We want to make sure that we don’t lose car parking spaces,” added councillor Healy “We’re looking at things we can do in the car park to potentially increase car parking Some of the detail around disabled car parking in the right places and make it easier for disabled users to access the theatre “The baseline is that we don’t want to lose any parking as we know it’s tight when there’s a busy show and other things going on in Oakengates as well “It’s about getting those final details in and seeing how many we can without breaking the budget There’s also a constant re-evaluation of the budget.” Two weeks after a major re-development was approved Oakengates residents weighed in with their views on the controversial plans Council proposals to revamp Oakengates town centre attracted push-back from some businesses whose stores faced demolition in the multi-million pound plans Plans to tear down six business units on Limes Walk and Market Street and create a plaza for weekly street markets and community events were approved at a council meeting on February 8 Fourteen other retail units are set for refurbishment while 10 first-floor residential properties Plans to refurbish the Telford Theatre are also in motion which could include improved facilities and an increase in the size of the audience that the theatre can accommodate But residents of and visitors to Oakengates are still torn on the matter said the town was still struggling to accept the proposals He said: "The problem I have with it is the lack of public consultation "When we did the consultation on the last regeneration of the high street I think all this is going to do is take away shops Oakengates resident John Shepherd said the town needed "more than some trees and benches" "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear," John "We're a small town and there aren't that many shops They should be giving the people that live in Oakengates everything they need said she was concerned the plans were going to take charity shops away from the town The 63 year-old said: "Oakengates is affordable a lot of people rely on the charity shops and more and more people are depending on them especially for larger families or people that have just come to the country "All the plans will do is make the theatre look nicer There's so much culture here and everyone's welcome But not everyone was so sceptical - as one passerby yelled: "I think they all need to give it a chance!" said he was thrilled to hear about the plans If you can get that sort of development into a small town like this it goes to show we obviously deserve it "It would be nice to see the theatre attract more people I'd love to see more places that will allow people to get together and sit outside I think it'll be a big benefit to the town Staff at Proactive Personnel were the first business to relocate in Oakengates ahead of the plans senior regional transport manager at the company said they were settled into their new home we've still got a presence in Oakengates and that's what's important I'm sure it'll look smart when it is done." Those in local government are still optimistic about the project and insist the project will enhance the town the council's cabinet member for neighbourhood services said he was delighted at the decision to approve the plans chair of Oakengates Chamber of Trade hailed the approval of the plans A disused area of land which could one day host nine homes has been put up for sale has been put on the market with a guide price of £225,000 opposite ATS Euromaster and backing onto Slaney Street car park has been empty for a decade after a factory belonging to Eade Works was demolished vegetation grew on the site before it was cleared away a couple of years ago leaving a bare concrete floor and wall on the far side of the site Planning permission for nine one-bedroom apartments across to blocks at the 748.3sqm site - one containing seven homes and the other with two - along with car parking was given by Telford & Wrekin Council in November 2020 Pattinsons Auction says: "In the centre of the town this plot has full planning permission and discharged conditions This spade-ready site has full planning for nine apartments set within two blocks of apartments "One situated to the front of the site and one to the rear the apartments will have the benefit of parking close access to the M54 and the advantage of being a short walk from Oakengates railway station." The site is for sale via online auction with the listing found here Oakengates Library is preparing to move to a temporary location while work takes place on the town's theatre The library will instead be based at The Wakes The library will close its doors at Oakengates Theatre on Monday Operating hours for Oakengates Library at its new home will be between 10am and 4pm Thursdays and Fridays and 10am and 2pm on Saturdays the opening hours will be 10am to 4pm Mondays and two free-to-use computers will be transferred the library will be staffed ready to assist service users with book and audio book rentals and sourcing materials from other libraries across the borough The temporary relocation is necessary due to forthcoming remodelling works at Telford Theatre “The temporary relocation of Oakengates Library to The Wakes demonstrates our commitment to ensuring uninterrupted access to vital services for our residents,” said Councillor Nathan England Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for finance “While the library undergoes this transition we are dedicated to providing continuity of service for community library users.” “The remodelling of our theatre is an exciting step forward for Oakengates and for Telford and Wrekin,” said Councillor Lee Carter He added: “Not only will it enable us to expand the range of shows and events for residents to enjoy but it will also contribute to boosting Oakengates creating a modern new space for residents and visitors alike.” said: "As we temporarily relocate Oakengates Library to The Wakes we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing ongoing access to vital services for our residents This move ensures that our community members can continue to benefit from library resources and assistance without disruption." supported by the Central Government Levelling Up Fund and improved front and back of house areas ensuring a contemporary theatre experience for Oakengates and its residents Oakengates Theatre Square adjacent to Telford Theatre will also undergo transformation updating the 1960s shopping precinct with new shops For more information about the Telford Theatre remodelling project, visit telford.gov.uk/info/21918/telford_theatre Several changes to train timetables are set to come into force at the start of next month West Midlands Railway (WMR) is planning a number of timetable changes which will come into effect on Sunday The changes include an additional hourly service between Birmingham and Shrewsbury which will operate Monday to Saturday The existing WMR service will be diverted via Bescot in readiness to serve new stations at Willenhall and Darlaston While the new service will reduce journey times to and from Birmingham for some passengers the diversion means journey times from Bilbrook There will also no longer be a direct regular connection between Smethwick Galton Bridge and Bilbrook The new timetables are available to view online at: westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/june24 A football team is celebrating three decades of play at a leisure centre in Telford Nirmal Mattu took over an indoor five-a-side football club more than 30 years ago when the league he was in disbanded currently playing at Oakengates Leisure Centre on Wednesdays and Saturdays has been maintained over the years by Mr Mattu Jaz Mattu and the dedicated footballers who join them week in and week out Mr Mattu and his team aim to still be playing football when they reach their 70s with a keen appetite to keep fit and moving Afterwards they would like to pass the team onto their younger family who they hope will manage it as well as Mr Mattu and the dedicated team have over the years Oakengates Leisure Centre has changed dramatically over the 30 years with considerable investment across all areas of the site Investment has improved the customer experience in a number of areas including a new 3G pitch relaying of the sports hall floor and state of the art health and fitness facilities all in addition to the external look and feel of the centre said: “The team love getting out on a Saturday we love getting together every Saturday and Wednesday for a kick around "It keeps our fitness and activity levels up but it’s also a great social event during and after the games.” For more details about Telford & Wrekin Leisure football pitches visit telfordandwrekinleisure.co.uk/directory/1/football_and_cricket_pitches Network Rail has released new drone video footage today (Thursday 14 March 2024) showing the huge operation underway to repair a landslip on the railway in Telford affecting journeys between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury stations Passengers are being advised that major work to safely reopen the line between Oakengates and Wellington stations in Shropshire is now expected to be completed by the Easter bank holiday weekend On Friday 8 March Network Rail closed the line near Oakengates stations in both directions for safety reasons following a landslip on a steep railway embankment More than 5,000 tonnes of material slipped beneath a 50-metre section of the railway after persistent heavy rainfall over the winter months had weakened the earthwork beneath it Engineers have been working around the clock since last week to clear the site to allow access for materials and equipment needed to shore up the embankment Work to restabilise the railway embankment - which is approximately 15 metres in height - involves digging out material that’s slipped to create a new profile for the slope Large ‘steps’ will be cut into the slope before engineers backfill it with over 12,000 tonnes of stone helping to reduce the gradient and strengthen the embankment Network Rail engineers are aiming to reopen the railway between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury by Easter and are working closely with partners at West Midlands Railway and Transport for Wales to extend current train services as far as possible in the meantime All trains will continue to start and terminate at Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury stations with rail replacement buses serving all stations between Ticket acceptance for Transport for Wales customers is currently in place with West Midlands Railway West Midlands Railway will continue to operate rail replacement buses between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury a two-hourly limited train service will operate to stations between Wolverhampton and Shifnal The service will call in both directions at Wolverhampton with the average round journey taking between 20 and 25 minutes Transport for Wales will continue to operate rail replacement buses between Shrewsbury and Birmingham Ticket acceptance for Transport for Wales customers will remain in place with West Midlands Railway Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry Trains.* Avanti West Coast’s daily service to London Euston will continue to start and finish at Wolverhampton said: “I’m really sorry to passengers whose journeys are affected by the closure of the railway in Telford after a landslip last week which was caused by prolonged heavy rainfall over the winter months “The scale of our repairs are extremely challenging and will involve using over 12,000 tonnes of material to restabilise the failed railway embankment so we can safely reopen the railway said: “This was a significant landslip and I thank passengers for their patience while Network Rail completes crucial repairs we’ve operated a rail replacement service between affected stations and we are pleased to be able to run a train service between Wolverhampton and Shifnal in both directions from Monday “Passengers can now check departure times in journey planners and we will be running this partial service until the line reopens.” Network Rail is working with its contractor Murphy to repair the railway and safely restore train services through Telford as soon as possible *Ticket acceptance has been agreed for Transport for Wales customers with West Midlands Railway Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry until Sunday 24 March: Passengers traveling from the north can connect with Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Railway services between Crewe and Birmingham Passengers using the rail replacement buses from Shrewsbury can connect with Avanti West Coast CrossCountry and West Midland Railway services at Wolverhampton and on to Birmingham to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years As part of the investment work at Oakengates Leisure Centre the fitness centre has now reopened at the main site The gym was temporarily moved to the Tennis Centre whilst refurbishment work was carried out to redecorate the interior and work undertaken to the exterior of the building to ensure a significant difference to the carbon footprint of the building Essential maintenance work to the swimming pool continues with an expected reopening date of the swimming pool this summer Telford & Wrekin Council Cabinet Member for Climate Action “It’s great to see users and aspirations members back in the gym at the main site utilising the facilities This planned investment into our leisure services will ensure that we are offering facilities to benefit the health and wellbeing of our residents “We continue to work towards our target of our operations to be carbon neutral by 2030 The work at Oakengates Leisure Centre is part of a wider package of activity in our Carbon Neutral plan.” “We’re thrilled to team up with Telford & Wrekin Council in their drive for net-zero emissions Pave Aways’ focus on implementing sustainable energy-efficient solutions fits hand-in-hand with the aim to extend the longevity of our fantastic public facilities we’re also supporting the local economy by utilising a of network sub-contractors and suppliers within the region.” Elsewhere on site at Oakengates Leisure Centre track and tennis centre will remain open throughout the duration of the works to the swimming pool Oakengates Leisure Centre is part of the Telford & Wrekin Council Leisure Services portfolio within the borough which includes seven leisure facilities A former nightclub housed in a historic chapel building has been granted permission to re-open as a place of worship had applied to change the use of the Oakengates venue and Telford and Wrekin Council planners gave the green-light this week Built in 1848 to house an offshoot of the Wellington Congregationalists the Lion Street venue known as “The Old Chapel” later served as a community centre and housed “Decades” nightclub after being granted a live music and entertainment consent in 1994 A planning statement submitted on behalf of Pastor Sarpong said congregations of about 50 people were expected for the church’s Sunday services with smaller services and meetings being held at other times Quoting from the Old Chapel’s entry at British History Online planning agent Simon Smith of Shropshire-based firm En-Plan writes: “In 1843 the Wellington Congregationalists instituted services in Oakengates the first being held in a room at the Charlton Arms “Oakengates’s first minister was appointed in 1846 a schoolroom in Lion Street opened in 1847 and the chapel that surmounted it in 1848.” He adds that the proposed change of use is “fully policy-compliant and sustainable” and “will protect the character and setting of a vacant building of local interest thus preventing it from falling into disrepair” says the 392-square-metre building would hold its main weekly service on Sunday with smaller services on Wednesday and Friday night and a youth meeting on Saturday Worshippers would also be on site in the daytime on weekdays to attend appointments and meetings with the clergy The railway between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury is likely to remain closed for at least two weeks while Network Rail carries out emergency repairs following a landslip near Oakengates station in Telford On Friday morning (8 March) engineers closed the line between Wellington and Oakengates stations in both directions to assess a failed railway embankment Approximately 5,000 tonnes of material has slipped beneath a 50 metre section of the railway after persistent heavy rainfall over the winter months has weakened the earthwork beneath it.  Rail engineers are working around the clock to plan major repairs to restabilise the embankment and begin mobilising engineers and equipment on site Before structural repairs can begin Network Rail teams need to cut back and clear vegetation from the railway embankment This critical clearance work will help to understand the scale of the damage check that there is no risk of further landslips and provide access for materials and equipment Passengers are being advised that the railway is likely to remain closed until at least Monday 25 March said: “I’m really sorry to passengers affected by the landslip near Oakengates station which means the line is likely to remain shut for at least two weeks while we plan and deliver complex repairs to the failed railway embankment West Midlands Railway customer experience director said: "This is a significant landslip and I would like to thank our passengers on the Shrewsbury Line for their patience while Network Rail carries out these safety-critical repairs "Rail replacement buses will be operating for the duration of the line closure and I urge passengers to check their travel plans carefully and leave extra time for their journeys." Passengers are strongly advised to check before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk A police raid in Telford has uncovered the 19th cannabis grow in less than six months for one Telford crime fighting team While much of the county was still tucked up in bed on Thursday morning a handful of West Mercia officers were preparing a raid on a suspected cannabis grow in Telford The team gathered for a 5.30am briefing at Malinsgate Police Station where they were told that intelligence suggested the home on Holyhead Road in Ketley was being used to grow cannabis around a dozen officers piled out of vehicles and surrounded the property A few sharp shots with the battering ram and the home's two doors were down an immediate yell of "grow confirmed" came from one officer as the now open door revealed a room packed full of cannabis plants Officers charged inside the property and after a few minutes of shouting and searching the team emerged back outside with a man in cuffs The 34-year-old had been discovered hiding in the attic the man - who had been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis - was led to an awaiting police car and taken off to custody Around 100 plants were discovered in the property which police estimate to be worth around £100,000 The search of a vehicle discovered close by also uncovered around £7,000 of cash Intelligence gathered at the Ketley house pointed the team towards another property in Newport Within an hour and a half of leaving the station after the briefing the team were pulling up to a home on Gravelly Drive - their second property of the morning the door was spared a dramatic meeting with the battering ram but a search of the property and a vehicle outside saw several items seized make up Telford's Neighbourhood Crime Fighting Team Sergeant Corfield called the morning "another happy day in the office" "When I go to speak to the neighbours and they say good job - that's what it's all about," he added they've achieved massive successes for the force Sergeant Corfield believes they have taken around £3m of drugs off the streets "We seize and destroy all of the equipment found at the properties which can cost between ten and thirty thousand pounds to set up." which works out as an average of two arrests each time the team is on duty The cannabis grow found on Thursday was the 19th that the team have uncovered since December last year Sergeant Corfield added: "We want to make it clear to people that once we receive this information "A lot of people don't think of cannabis as being as serious as other drugs but it's all part of the funding of serious organised crime Police have confirmed the death of a man in a pub over the weekend Oakengates was closed on Saturday with police vehicles seen outside all day West Mercia Police has now confirmed the death as a reason for the venue being cordoned off A spokeswoman for the force said: "We were called to a pub on Holyhead Road in Telford at 12.30am on Saturday 27 May following the death of a 63-year-old man "The death is being treated as unexplained." West Midlands Ambulance services was also called A spokeswoman said: "We were called at 00.23 on Saturday to a medical emergency at a property on Holyhead Road in Oakengates Two ambulances and a paramedic officer attended the scene despite the best efforts of ambulance staff nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene." said the pub had been closed due to "unforeseen circumstances" before thanking "guests and community for their understanding and continued support" and reopening the following day A 79-year-old Telford pizza shop owner has been handed a seven-month suspended jail sentence and banned from running food premises again after admitting breaching food hygiene laws Shrewsbury Crown Court was told that Ziaddin Choudury had been involved in the food industry for 35 years many of those at Momma's Pizzas in Oakengates and that problems with its hygiene standards had been picked up by officers since 2011 But a complaint by a member of the public led to a council visit to the Market Street premises on August 2018 where they found a series of health hazards unclean equipment and use of cardboard for work surfaces making a possible breeding ground for hazardous bugs Telford & Wrekin Council wanted to get back nearly £24,000 in court costs over the case but recorder Anthony Warner accepted that there was little chance of them getting all that back a diabetic who is in poor health having suffered a stroke posed a low risk of harm or offending in the future An interpreter was in court to relay the court proceedings to him in the dock and people were certainly at risk of suffering food poisoning there have been no reports of anyone being ill," said Recorder Warner put by Matthew Kerruish-Jones in court on Tuesday that Choudury should be given a suspended sentence Recorder Warner said: "You appear really to be in denial the importance of hygiene These are very serious matters that go back a long way." Defence and prosecution lawyers agreed that Choudury should immediately be prohibited from running a food business Choudury pleaded guilty to five breaches of the regulations including failure to keep a food premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition allowing unsafe food to be stored on the business premises failure to store food at the correct temperature and failure to protect food against contamination His sentences were imposed to run concurrently said a visit by environmental health officers on August 2 had been a result of a complaint to the council from a member of the public But the premises were well-known to council officials During a visit in January 2018 it had been identified as in need of major improvements for hygiene safety and handed a one out of five hygiene rating In February 2018 a procedure for lifting standards had been signed off But when they visited the premises in August officers found Choudury with three employees One had no training in food safety and there was no food safety certificate "One had to be reminded on several occasions to wash his hands," said Ms Sarginson Officials found three containers of out-of-date coleslaw dated July 2018 and 12-day old stale dough in plastic bags They also found raw chicken in a 'filthy' double sink near a board that was used to chop salad and posed a "risk of cross contamination" Officials also found shredded chicken stored at 16.2C when it was meant to be kept not above 8C Ms Sarginson said it was "risking the development of pathogens harmful to humans" The same was found for burgers which officials found to be kept at 15.2C The prosecutor added that electricity had been switched off at night to "save money" and this led to fridges defrosting Among dirty equipment found on the premises was a microwave and a tin opener with food residue Choudury was also accused of using cardboard on surfaces When he was interviewed in November 2018 Choudury blamed issues on an employee who had left the business He said that the coleslaw had been for himself and not the public The fajitas had been an employee's and he had "forgot that they were there" Council staff visited again in August 2019 and found problems continuing The court was told that the business had received warnings but very little had happened during visits in 2011 In some years they had multiple visits over "a similar set of non-compliance" Asking for the court to prohibit Choudury from running food businesses Ms Sarginson also asked for council costs of £23,818.79 to be imposed on him asked the court to impose a suspended sentence and to realise that Choudury is "not a man of means" The business turned over about £98,000 a year but his personal income was £11,340 "His best mitigation are his personal circumstances his age and his guilty plea," said Mr Kerruish-Jones "He is going to be prohibited so the risk of further offending is nil "He has done himself no favours in the way he has conducted himself but this is not the worst food safety or hygiene case that has come before this court Nobody has been made ill as far as I am aware and vermin are not a feature of this case." He added that Choudury would be 80 next week and had many health problems The future of his home is also in doubt at the moment Mr Kerruish-Jones added that some improvement had been seen at the shop in the past year when Choudury's brother helped him improve hygiene ratings from zero to three out of five stars Recorder Anthony Warner said Choudury "should make a contribution to council costs" of nearly £24,000 but he said he had to be "realistic" "The reality is that he has no savings and if he goes into social housing that will come at some cost to him," he said "But whatever contribution is made is going to be modest compared to what is sought." Recorder Warner said the maximum custodial sentence would be nine months in prison but he would reduce this to seven months to take account of the mitigating factors And he considered the issue of whether he should suspend the sentence He said: "The prospect is that you will have time to reflect on what has happened and are regarded as someone who will not offend in this way again." He said these factors enabled him to suspend the jail sentence for 12 months Choudury was warned that if he offended again he risked being jailed Recorder Warner ordered Choudury to pay £500 in costs at the rate of £40 a month A former snooker club site which now has planning permission for 70 apartments is up for sale for more than £2m The site at Canongate in Oakengates was previously the home to Telford Snooker Club but it is being advertised as a development opportunity by estate agents Allen Heritage – and is featured on Zoopla Planning permission was previously approved for the site It allows for the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new building made up of 53 one-bedroom apartments and 17 two-bedroom apartments The project plans also include 70 indoor car parking spaces on the ground floor and up to 91 outdoor parking spaces Back when the proposal went to Telford & Wrekin Council's planning committee a report explained the snooker business had “significant annual losses” and was no longer viable adding that the site was “in need of redevelopment” which advertises the site for sale on a freehold basis It describes the setting as the "heart of modern-day Telford," adding "Oakengates is an historic market town north of the city [sic] centre" It says that whoever takes over the site will receive it empty and the listing adds: "The existing building comprises a two storey corrugated metal-cladded building of approximately 16,000 sq ft "The ground floor was previously used as a nightclub with a bar "The first floor was previously used as a snooker centre The site is currently utilised as a car wash with car parking spaces for in excess of 100 cars on a short-term flexible lease." A three-storey office building in Telford could be transformed into a Sikh Temple if plans are approved A representative from the Sikh temple Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara has lodged an application with Telford & Wrekin Council to change Abbey House in Priorslee to a place of worship But some members of the current gurdwara in Oakengates have hit out at the move and want to stay put The application asks for the council to consider changing the use of the site from a commercial premises to a place of worship Inderjit Singh Gill said: "The intention is to use this building as a place of worship for the Sikh Community in Shropshire and surrounding areas a kitchen and community facilities for worship and improvement of well-being." less than a quarter of the size of Abbey House The proposal and potential move has caused some controversy with the application attracting over a dozen objections from within the Sikh community Sukhjit Singh said: "The one in Oakengates is fully sustainable and has been for many years "The current property is freehold and the new proposed property is only a leasehold which will cost so much to run it is our family temple that we have used since being born - we do not want it to get shut or moved." Mrs Mohinder Kaur said: "I have been attending Oakengates Gurdwara for the last 30 years plus which is nearer for me with public transport I'm elderly and I feel I will not be able to attend new place of worship." Support has come from a couple of residents with Kuldeep Singh saying the move would create "a beautiful Gurdwara for the Sikh people of Shropshire and beyond" Sharam Margey said it was "shocking" to see so much disapproval for the larger Gurdwara The application is open until February 1, application number TWC/2022/0898.