New Bromsgrove civic centre plans put on show

Buy photos » The former Parkside School building will house staff from Bromsgrove District Council and Worcestershire County Council, along with the town’s library, registration service and customer service centre.

PLANS for the former Parkside Middle School, which is set to become a new Civic Centre for Bromsgrove, are set to go on display.

The two public consultations will take place at the town’s library between 3pm and 8pm on Thursday (March 21) and at the committee room at the Council House, Burcot Lane, at the same times a week on Monday (March 25).

There is an extensive revamp proposed for the building, which will house staff from Bromsgrove District Council and Worcestershire County Council, along with the town’s library, registration service and customer service centre.

Outline plans of the new-look centre will be available for residents to view and council officers will be on hand to talk about the proposal and answer any questions residents have. The plans will then stay on display at the library until they are submitted for approval.

The development is part of the Bromsgrove Town Centre Regeneration Programme, which is backed by Worcestershire County Council, Bromsgrove District Council, Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, Herefordshire and Worcestershire Fire and Rescue Service and West Mercia Police.

Alan Stokes, the county council’s strategic asset management unit manager, said there were a number of sites owned by the organisations in the town that were either inadequate, inefficient or no longer suited to deliver services.

“The plans for the former school site are ambitious and will enable us to locate a number of services and organisations in a single building, thereby increasing convenience for residents and delivering savings for the partners.

“We’re keen to hear residents’ thoughts and would encourage them to drop in to the sessions.”

He concluded by saying there would be further chances for residents to have their say as part of the formal planning process.

John Staniland, Bromsgrove District Council’s executive director of planning, regeneration and housing services, said by moving from outdated and inefficient building, the authority would save £150,000-a-year.

“It also means we are utilising a valuable site in the town centre which currently houses a boarded-up building.

“By developing the Parkside site, we are freeing-up the existing council house and town library site to enable further development of Bromsgrove.”

Those who cannot make the events but still want to submit comments can e-mail lharris2@worcestershire.gov.uk or call 01905 765836 by Tuesday 30 April 2013.

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