Important Amenity Information
This is our new local information section. Below you will find vital details of important services from around Telford, including Local Authority details, Hospital and local Police force details and a comprehensive guide to Telford town itself.
Hospital Details
Princess Royal Hospital, Telford
(01952) 641222
Police Details
Main Switchboard: (08457) 444888
Website
Telford & Wrekin Council
(01952) 202100
Website
Telford Town Guide
Telford Centre from the air
Telford is one of the fastest growing stars of the West Midlands - a modern town set within beautiful countryside, a town which is almost a city, yet without the hassles of metropolitan life.
Normally, it takes centuries for a town to grow into maturity but Telford has done it in just 40 years.
Despite its modern status, however, Telford has never lost its links with the past.
Its most famous sight is undoubtedly the Iron Bridge, which dates back to the 1700s. Ironbridge, the town, is a tourist paradise with people flocking there from all over the world.
The Ironbridge Gorge Museum has been awarded the title of a World Heritage site and has won numerous awards for preserving the heritage of an area recognised as the birthplace of the industrial revolution.
Other sites commemorating the Industrial Revolution include the Blists Hill Victorian Town, where one can almost experience the atmosphere of a real Victorian working community, and the Coalport China Museum which houses displays of 200 years of china.
The Jackfield Tile Museum, a former world centre of the decorative tile industry, or the Rosehill House in which the Darby family lived, is yet another reason for those who live in the area to take pride in its history.
Lately, it has launched Enginuity, the UK’s first and only interctive visitor attraction dedicated to design and technology, a real hands-on museum which is a delight for children.
So that’s the past, in which Telford has its roots. But what about the future?
With a population of more than 160,000 the town has already made a bid for city status.
There are now more than 4,000 firms in Telford, many in the engineering, automotive, electronics and polymer industries but with mushrooming IT companies, call centres and government departments.
The town is ranked second only to Birmingham in enticing inward investors and company relocations and has gone through a boom period over the last 15 years.
It is also a property hotspot. Telford offers every conceivable style of home and housing; from small flatlets to veritable mansions. Many of its housing estates are showpiece developments and in the first quarter of 2003, house prices shot up by nearly 18 per cent.
Generally speaking the town is roughly split by the M54/A5 running across it. South Telford has the original New Town estates of Sutton Hill and Woodside and North Telford the established market towns of Wellington and Oakengates.
Picture of Telford Centre from the air
Telford Centre from the air
Standing in the middle is Telford town centre, an absolute mecca
for shoppers, given a huge boost by the opening of Beatties and a line of other stores as part of its latest £20m development.
The shopping centre is now home to more than 1 million sq ft of shops, restaurants, top stores, fashion houses, cafes and restaurants, all surrounded by
ample parking and butting on to the famous Telford town park with 450-acres of open space and leisure facilities.
Add to all this Telford International Centre, a huge cinema complex, ice rink and bowling centre.
Smaller shopping centres can also be found dotted around other areas of Telford, including Wellington and Oakengates.
Two major developments in progress are the Telford Millennium Community at East Ketley and Lightmoor urban village, a joint venture between English Partnerships and Bournville Village Trust.
The millennium community was the 5th announced by the Deputy Prime Minister in July 2002. Construction is due to begin in 2004 on a brownfields site which will provide 800 new homes, a community space and school.
The £50m Lightmoor project south west of the town centre will provide a further 800 homes and community facilities, including a church and community centre.
Telford has a lot of history behind it - and it’s set to make an awful lot more.
