Plans for town gateway unveiled
Friday 16th January 2009, 12:40PM GMT.
An artist’s impression of the plans for Wellington
A multi-million pound scheme to transform the centre of Wellington, including a new library and register office, was today unveiled by Telford & Wrekin Council.
It will also mean improvements to Wellington Leisure Centre and new offices for up to 200 people – bringing together all Wellington’s borough council staff on one site.
Council bosses claim it will be a shot in the arm for the local economy, helping to revive the ancient market town and providing much-needed jobs in the construction industry.
They say the modern development would complement Wellington’s historic heart and help to screen parts of the existing 1980s centre.
The £8 million regeneration project is part of the council’s Borough Towns Initiative, which aims to help the original communities around which the new town of Telford was created in the 1960s.
Officials will now sound out the public and take on board their views before a detailed planning application is submitted in March.
Work could start in the autumn, following a tendering process, if planning permission is granted.
Councillor Eric Carter, cabinet member for regeneration, said: “I am delighted we are now able to put a clear vision before people of how we think Wellington could look.
“This scheme shows how our Borough Towns Initiative can continue our plans to regenerate the borough and this would provide a real boost for Wellington’s economy.
“It would represent a significant investment in the town by Telford & Wrekin Council and would help bring many more people into the centre of Wellington and a further boost for local traders.
“Rationalising the council’s offices in Wellington around this one core site will also offer considerable savings for us in the long term.
“It’s important we get local people’s views on our ideas and I hope as many people as possible will help to shape the council’s plans before these are submitted.”
The public can have their say on the ideas at a range of consultation events in Wellington between now and the end of February. For details visit www.telford.gov.uk
Plans will also be available to view at Wellington Leisure Centre and Library and Telford Town Centre Civic Offices from February 2 for three weeks.
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You can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear.
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Basically the story here is: Council get new office building but the Council have made it look like it’s going to do the town a favour. nice one T&WC.
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Good news Wellington could do with a fresh bit of invesment. It is looking increasingly tired these days.
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Looks nice – but how many parking spaces are lost? And what happens to the buildings that will be vacated by council staff?
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*sigh*… so much cynicism!
Tell you what, Shropshire Star, stop reporting good news, it’s apparently a waste of ink and electrons!
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I’m with Harold on this one; Only, I would add the same goes for the whole of the Telford new town conurbation
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What will happen to the car parking, where will all the staff park – I can guess, on the car parks where the local traders would expect their customers to park, but what the hell at least the council staff can park and have nice new office.
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The BBC news article quotes a council spokesman who said the new developments would help “screen parts of the existing 1980s centre”. The council should make clear whether this plan is merely a makeover, or part of a longer term plan to improve Wellington.
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The plans look as if the building work will take place on mainly areas that our already buit on or are not car parks. Though these are subject to change, of course.
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This is an excellent plan and should be fully supported. This will be a good start in redeveloping Wellington into a vibrant market town. It is so disappointing that Shropshire is so full negative and depressive people who always see the glass half empty! Well done to T and W council!
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please please please can people stop building modern galss and steel buildings and spend the money on restoring lovely old ones instead
wellington is a mediaeval town, we should be preserving its charachter with nice traditional vernacular architeture
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brilliant – welcome progress, welcome development, lets not stay in the dark ages, we need to grow and build and it will help to save jobs in the construction industry too
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good on em, at least someones building during this down turn, without the public sector we would be doomed
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gh – where does the public sector get their finances from – the taxpayer mainly but also huge loans that we will all have to pay back. Would it not be better to try and reduce the council tax bills, rather than incurring additional financing costs that will have to be paid for.
Unless there are savings to be made by selling of the present office accommodation or not paying rent.
My main concern is the impact on the car parking for shoppers etc.
Perhaps we are doomed anyway, with the huge public sector pension liabilities that are being built up.
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