The large and scenically attractive Parish of Pontesbury enjoys an excellent location. It lies within a mile of the A5 Shrewsbury bypass and much of the southern part lies within the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Bisecting the parish the busy A488 links the main settlement of Pontesbury with Shrewsbury town centre, seven miles north. It also provides most people with their main contact and view of our Parish as they travel through the area. The population has grown considerably since the last census in 2011 when it numbered 3227, with a low density of one person per hectare. Nearly one quarter of the population is aged over 65: this is significantly higher than the county and national averages.

In appearance Pontesbury is a very rural Parish. The much-loved twin peaks of Pontesford Hill and Earl’s Hill dominate the gently undulating pastures, cornfields and woods below. This delightfully unspoilt countryside forms the backdrop to each settlement. Farming activity dominates the landscape with other commercial and industrial activity being largely small scale and unobtrusive. To date, tourism is low key, having a very limited impact on the landscape.

Pontesbury village is the commercial and social hub for the Parish’s population. The estimated population in 2016 was 1897. For its size, it has an excellent and much valued range of services used by villagers and outlying settlements. The village offers primary and secondary schools, three pubs, a post office, shops, chemist, GP surgery and dentist, library, pre-school nursery and eating places. These facilities help to explain its popularity as a place to live. Towering above the village is the imposing church of St Georges around which winds the busy commuter traffic on the one way system of the A488. Relatively new housing dominates the village centre but there are reminders of its long history near the church and the picturesque ford. Completed in 2021 the large Hall Bank development, whilst significantly increasing the population is integrating well with the rest of the village by providing better shopping, parking and community facilities.

Within the parish, there is a choice of lifestyle. Some of the Hamlets and villages lack even pavements or street lighting but enjoy enviable peace and tranquillity which is much prized by their inhabitants. Clearly defined and separated by open countryside are the small villages and hamlets of Habberley with its popular pub, Cruckton, Plealey, Hinton, Arscott, Asterley, Lea Cross and Cruckmeole.

Two outstanding heritage assets of the parish are Earls Hill Nature Reserve owned and managed by Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the conservation area of Plealey which contains the finest group of historic buildings in the parish, including some exemplary restoration projects and beautiful architectural details. Pontesford has several reminders of once important coal and lead industries including an engine house and smelt works. The distinctive squatter settlement along Pontesbury Hill Road is partly a result of this Victorian industrial activity.

Although Pontesbury village is mainly a commuter and retirement settlement, assisted by fairly easy access to Shrewsbury and Telford, it contains a surprising number of small businesses with nearly 1/5 of the workforce being self-employed. 50% of people use a car to travel to work. The main employers are the four schools and the Malehurst Industrial estate.

Leisure facilities include Arscott golf course, Pontesbury play area, and the public halls at Cruckmeole, Habberley and Pontesbury which host a variety of social and cultural activities. There is a need for more youth facilities. Residents and visitors make good use of the public footpath and popular cycle network with easy access to them form each settlement – an important consideration for the future health of local people.

As one of the gateways to the Shropshire Hills AONB Pontesbury enjoys an increasing, but not overwhelming number of tourists for whom Earls Hill is a popular destination.

For planning purposes, outside of Pontesbury village, the rest of the parish is classified as open countryside which means that development is strictly controlled. This policy plays a crucial part in safeguarding the rural nature of the area. Maintaining the tranquillity of its beautiful countryside is a primary concern for most residents and the main attraction for visitors.

Consultation has been carried out between December 2018 and February 2019 on the Shropshire Council Local Plan Review) until 2038). The review includes a slight modification to the boundary for the parish and a suggested further 42 dwellings to be built (over and above permissions granted to date). There is a preferred site in Pontesbury village for over half of the 42 dwellings and the others are envisaged to be satisfied by windfall sites. The review does not include preferred sites anywhere else in the parish.

The Climate Emergency Action Group is working hard to guide our community into a greener future with greater biodiversity, cleaner air, more opportunities for active travel and a lower carbon footprint.