COUNCILLORS in Ellesmere have voted to allow more people to address them in council meetings.

The item was raised at Monday night’s (March 7) meeting by Ellesmere mayor Councillor Paul Goulbourne after someone wishing to speak at a recent meeting was turned away for not meeting the criteria.

Currently, anyone who does not currently reside in Ellesmere Urban and within the town council's remit, cannot address the council during its 10-minute public participation at the start of the meeting.

However, the meeting at the Town Hall was told by Cllr Goulbourne that the same people would be able to apply to be a town councillor if they had a registered business in the town.

Cllr Goulbourne put forward a motion to allow public participation to be extended to more people, with town clerk Joanne Butterworth informing the meeting that legal advice had been sought.

She added that there was no legal position but at the discretion of the councillors, who all agreed to widen the eligibility for speaking, meaning future meetings could involve tourists wishing to speak.

Meanwhile, financial matters dominated the council with decisions taken to approve tenders for two different projects.

A bid of around £5,500 was accepted to provide two vehicle activated signs in the town with four tenders given to the town council, ranging from £11,000 to £4,000 but the second lowest tender was taken as it offered best value.

The signs will be similar to the one utilised on the approach into Welshampton, providing a smiley and sad face adjusted to the speed the car is travelling.

The meeting was told that Shropshire Council will install the signs, which will measure up to 40mph, and they will be solar powered.

Also confirmed is a tender for grounds maintenance in the town, which was awarded to Groundforce Landscape Ltd who tendered the cheapest bid to win the contract.

The council will be paying just under £8,000 to the company after a drawn out process that required the original tender to be extended to attract bids.

The unsuccessful tender was around £19,000.

Meanwhile, two planning applications to Shropshire Council were given backing by the town council; a single-storey rear extension in Wisteria Way and a single-storey side extension with a two-storey rear extension in Elson Road.