Mayor of Wellington attends "Wrekin Summit"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 5th Jul 2004

Councillor Pat Fairclough, the Mayor of Wellington, attended the meeting at Little Wenlock Village Hall on 5 July, to discuss the future of the Wrekin, following the decision of landowner Peter Holt to sell off 136 acres of the hill. Also present was Councillor David Murray, Chair of the Wrekin and Telford Liberal Democrats, representatives of various public bodies, and interested local people, including well-known historian and writer George Evans.

On 22 July 2003, over 40 people, representing some 24 public organisations, attended the first "Wrekin Summit" in Little Wenlock Village Hall: local parish councils, the Countryside Agency, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Advantage West Midlands, the Heritage Lottery Fund, and local landowners. Landowner Peter Holt offered to play a part in improving parking provision, and it was agreed that this was an immediate need, along with the provision of toilet facilities.

It was also agreed to start the process of developing a strategy for the proper management of the Wrekin to which all, including the public, could contribute and which all could share. The MP said there was a great deal to be done to ensure that the Wrekin Summit succeeded where previous initiatives failed. But since 22 July last year, little has been done to move the proposals forward, and this year's meeting on 5 July was called as a result of Peter Holt's decision to sell.

Local historian, George Evans, expressed his concern that the MP decided to exclude the public from the detailed discussions on 5 July this year, and felt that it was important that everyone with an interest in the Wrekin should be able to contribute and share in the decisions about its future. He intends to hold a separate public meeting to ensure that these views are considered.