PLANS for the town council to take over the reigns of a major annual event could soon be in place.

Oswestry Town Council has agreed in principle to take control of the town’s food and drink festival, subject to further investigations.

The council has worked in partnership with event organisers on the Oswestry Food and Drink Festival, which has run for 12 years.

The Finance and General Purposes Committee made the decision on Monday night after the council received an official request from festival chairman Yossi Gliksman and organiser, John Waine.

In the letter, they said: “We believe that the best place for the festival going forward is in the hands of Oswestry Town Council to add to their roster of excellent civic events that do so much to make the town a better place.”

Councillor Vince Hunt said the town council almost took on the festival a few years ago, with Mr Waine’s agreement.

“It was considered the right thing to do - I don’t think anything’s changed; I don’t think there’s a councillor here that doesn’t support,” he said.

“I just think that we should make sure it happens this time.”

Cllr Hunt added that the festival was “not as big as it was” and that it needed a “little extra oomph to really make sure that it’s back to what it was.”

The festival cost in the region of £6,500 to run.

Town clerk David Preston said that the Oswestry Buiness Improvement District (BID) group was “supportive and would be quite interested in this”.

Members agreed to review the festival alongside Oswestry BID before reporting to the council next month.