WHITCHURCH Town Council has announced the new firm tasked with maintaining council-run grounds.

Following a comprehensive tendering process, Newman Landscapes Ltd has been successful in securing the contract for grounds maintenance from April 1.

The process involved advertising the tender using the national and EU contracts procurement system and bids were anonymised and evaluated using the criteria agreed by the council.

Councillor Bev Duffy, chairman of Whitchurch Town Council, thank the previous contact holders for their work.

"[I thank] Nobridge Nurseries for their lovely flower displays and their commitment and dedication in working with the town council over the last 12 years and Limetree Landscapes Services and Nurseries for keeping the cemetery in good order," said Cllr Duffy.

"I would like thank both contractors and their staff for the contribution they have made to the town, they have set a high standard for the new contractor to follow.

"I look forward to welcoming the Newman Landscapes team to Whitchurch."

Newman Landscapes has operated as a family-run business for more than 100 years.

They have established themselves as a multi-award winning company in the tree surgery, grounds maintenance, hard and soft landscape and winter gritting sector and have recently launched a strategic growth plan which will see them developing their business into Shropshire.

Managing director, David Newman, said he was proud to see his firm given the contact.

"We are proud and honoured to be given the opportunity to provide the grounds maintenance services contract for Whitchurch Town Council," he said.

"Focussing on our customer centric culture our approach will include customer engagement and service and quality reliability."

Newman Landscapes is also establishing a new centre of operations in the area, which it is hoped will provide employment opportunities for the town.