Wem can expect to have a new Police Community Support Officer in place by the end of May, according to a senior officer.

Inspector Tracey Ryan, who is lead officer for the Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) for north Shropshire, informed Wem Town councillors as she attended their full meeting on Thursday.

Inspector Ryan spent around 15 minutes talking to councillors and answering their questions.

"Wem is classed as a low crime area but there are quality of life issue we want to address," she said. "We can't always get to communicate – let us know about things otherwise we don’t find out.

"We know stuff goes on social media but try to avoid that please. We're looking to have a new fully-trained PCSO in Wem by the end of May.

"While there have been cuts, SNT budgets are protected hence why we are recruiting and we're committed to bolstering our forces."

Sergeant Claire Greenaway also attended the meeting, and she reported that West Mercia Police were aware of some small anti-social crime, intimidation, breaking windows or harassing of senior citizens.

She added: " We have made a plea on social media for people to come forward. But we’re short on witnesses. Anyone who wants to wants to come forward and tell us what they know, please do."

Meanwhile, councillors voted unanimously to reject another proposal for the building of two blocks of residential care homes for around 50 units in Mill Street, which was re-presented because of an amendment to the application.

Former Wem councillor Tom Edwards made an impassioned plea for councillors to reject the planning during the public forum, including from an archaeological viewpoint, and Shropshire councillor Chris Mellings agreed.

He said: "I'm not sure the amendment addresses the concerns we first raised and there seems to be inaccuracies in the (planning) report.

"In terms in the setting of the area and concerns, plus the history of the site and it’s been refused on appeal twice.

"This application should be opposed in the strongest terms possible and this is a nice green area that shouldn’t be developed on.

"We don’t have many green assets and we should keep them.”

Wem mayor Councillor Edward Towers added: "Nothing has changed from our original objection and now we’re adding extra components.

"We’ve gone ‘below ground’ in terms of the ground, and we don’t need additional care for the elderly at the minute.”