Shrewsbury Town Council’s new Quarry offices plan
Thursday 20th January 2011, 2:08PM GMT.
SHREWSBURY TOWN Council wants to build offices for 15 members of staff in the Quarry, it was revealed today.
The council is looking at moving a Victorian greenhouse next to the Shropshire Horticultural Society building to make way for the offices which could also be used for conferences and weddings.
News of the plans comes after it was revealed Shropshire Council is considering selling off the £10 million Guildhall – where the town council is based – to balance its books.
Councillor Alan Mosley, member of Shrewsbury Town Council, said he was “outraged” that his authority was considering building the new site when there were dozens of empty premises available in the town.
He said the possible use of cash for new offices was “insensitive” at a time of huge budget cuts.
“The town council has got very significant balances and I am concerned that something like £1.2 million has been put away for a possible new build by the council for new offices.
“It’s outrageous that the town council should be considering this at this time. I think many residents will be appalled that, rather than spending money on services for residents, the town council, which is limited in terms of size and function, is looking at accommodating itself.
“This is particularly so when there are cheaper sites available which would also lead to regeneration.”
Councillor Peter Nutting, from the town council, said the £1.2 million figure for new offices was “wild speculation” but he confirmed that money had been put aside for offices in the park.
He said the cash could also be used for other schemes including refurbishment of toilets in Butcher Row.
Councillor Nutting said the town council may also face difficulties in trying to relocate the Victorian greenhouse which has conservation status.
He said: “We are looking at all options for the town council because there is speculation that Shropshire Council will sell the Guildhall and if that happens we would be left homeless.”
Councillor Nutting said the Quarry was an attractive site because of its potential, including possible revenue from wedding events.
By Russell Roberts
UK News
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why build when so many empty buildings exist in the town
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Because public sector employees cannot work in the same conditions as private sector. In the private sector its not unusual to have desks in warehouses, and staff wearing 3 coats to stay warm while working. As a private sector employee I would like to make it clear that I am not complaining about conditions. The public sector seems to have almost limitless budgets for nice buildings, décor and supplies.
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Not in the council building I work in they don’t !!!!!!
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Rubbish Squire, absolute rubbish – did you pick that up in the pub then or have you, like so many before you fallen for biased reporting?
I don’t know where you get your information from, but it’s certainly not the case in the council building in which I’m employed. I am not complaing either; just attempting to throw a little balance in to offset your untruths and the inevitable lies and nonsense which are likely to follow from other posters.
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i worked for the council for a few years in a portacabin at the depot with inadequate heating – it was pretty rubbish there frankly, no i work in (private company) IT and work from home mainly so thats nicer
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How disgusting. Shrewsbury is really taking leave of it senses by allowing this new build maddness to continue. This is a heritage town with some of the best architecture in the country and it seems few on the council wish to protect it. From the blot on the landscape theatresevern building to the ill thought out changes to the baptist church, you are over developing and destroying the town and the officials who wish to move to the quarry ( should they not be working insted of hunting for somewhere with a nice view ) should look at moving into one of the many empty buildings in the town. If you want new build, no heritage then go to Telford and stop ruining our town.
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well said, i totally agree, there is a “sacrafice area” of shropshire for industry and modern construction on the cheap its called TELFORD, shrewsbury should be preserved as it is and kept for softer uses like retail and offices and nice cafes and art galleries
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Here we go again, people from Shrewsbury thinking they live in some kind of cultural utopia like Chester, York or Oxford when in fact its more like Mansfield, Northampton or Chesterfield. Oh hang on a minute, Chesterfield has a proper Cathederal.
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Yes Shrewsbury has lost alot in the last 50 years and a few awful buildings have been built but it is still THE best preserved Medieval/Tudor town in the country easily surpassing York (largely Georgian) and Chester (largely Victorian/Edwardian). The town has well over 300 listed buildings within the town centre, several historical monuments and superb examples of Architecture from the 11th to the 20th centuries. The town is stuffed with jewels. Even a large number of the modern buildings have ancient cores and basements. Combine that with numerous statues and monuments, the Quarry park and Dingle and the superb displays of flowers during the summer and you have one of the finest towns in country. It is a shame more people dont realise this.
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And a very large chip on its shoulder.
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more should be done to preserve shrewsbury buildings, the holland broadbridge building would be a good choice for this
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Put them in the old Holland and Broadbridge building next to the coucil palace, but make them pay for parking.
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good idea! where ever they go it should be about regenerating an area and reusing and old building, with that in mind, how about the flax mill ?
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Here’s a few ideas for where the town council could go: the Music Hall (which is being redeveloped – there will surely be some office space in there), Rowley’s House (what is happening to this?!), the Shirehall (obvious one), the Market Hall (plenty of office space above the market area), the railway station (think there is available space there), the Quarry swimming centre… the list goes on.
It’s not rocket science.
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The Shirehall is out as staff are stuffed in like sardines since the building of the Chief Executive’s management bunker
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Get rid of the town council altogether.
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Every other town in Shropshire has a Town Council to protect its interests. Should all those be abolished as well? How can local interests be represented effectively within a massive Shrophsire Council?
If the Guildhall is sold as office premises and then rent paid by the council to the purchaser for the space it needs wouldn’t that solve the problem and save the hassle and expense of relocating.
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read the text, it says it will be hired out for weddings, i imagine therefore it will be a building which covers its costs and makes a profit, rather than renting a building which really is a waste of public money
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they only just spent £10 milion on Frankwell in 2005, now theyre selling it, no doubt at a loss depsite booming property prices!? and building a new one – Why????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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I hear shrewsbury prison is to be closed , this would make an ideal office situation for the council ,above the flood plane so no excuses , can’t get to the ofice, saving a fourtune !! any one agree ?
Which project will be cut to fund this stupid move ?
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Nicely said sir, I agree with your idea completely.
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Excellent idea – perfect!
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They can have a cell each.
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CDC’s got the right idea !.
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I thought those greenhouses were listed buildings so can it be moved and if so where to so the public can still use it, or are they hoping it will fall into such disrepair soon that it can simply be demolished?
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This does not come across as a very good idea. I hope they have looked at other ideas first that will be more cost effective. Maybe they need to communicate their ideas on this better because on the face of it, it looks like they are wasting money.
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Are we talking about councillors here or actual employed staff?
If the former then I have to agree with CDC.
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Another case of “out of touch” Councillors who are totally disconnected from the people of Shrewsbury, their civic responsibilities and the feelings of the taxpayers of the town.
Will elected Councillors ever learn to be in any way as businesslike as business people have to be, or will we all have to continue to fight deaf, uncaring and money wasting people like this?
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A new office for 15 staff? Thats bonkers. They could hot desk around a dozen desks in shirehall for free surely? Also doesnt the town council do all the outdoors stuff maintenence and the like? so surely they should be out on the streets all day
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The council love to waste money. why not use shirehall or old offices in town. the quarry is a place for people to have open space to be and kids to play. stop making everyware a building site and stop wasting tax payers money.
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How can they justify spending on this with so many other essential services being cut!
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That is one of the most ludicrous things I’ve ever read in my life.
Every other council in the land is looking at selling property to protect services.
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Squire, you’re not aware of the facts. As a public sector worker I’ve worked in “offices” that were in reality warehouses; worn many layers to keep warm and had the management tell us it was quite safe for us to stay in the building whilst the asbestos roof was removed!
Like you I’m not complaining; the people I was serving had it far harder than me. I just want you to know that your popularist hit on public servants is wrong for so many reasons; the commitment my colleagues give goes far, far beyond what you would ever imagine.
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It’s absolutely disgraceful that the Council should be considering spending yet more of our money on new build. There are plenty of premises – both within the Town Centre and elsewhere where these staff could be accomodated (Princess House, Cambrian House….). Furthermore, why should they be allowed to even think of building in the Quarry – it’s the only green space to be enjoyed by everyone within the loop of the river. I’m not buying the weddings and functions plan either – who’s going to want the swimming baths as a backdrop to their photographs? This premise smacks of an excuse to provide luxury accomodation for staff which then would prove (surprise, surprise) to be an unsuitable site for such functions (but it would probably “do” for members of the SHS on Flower Show weekend……..).
Come on everyone, money’s tight – don’t let them waste the limited funds available on non-essential projects!
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Where are they getting the money from?
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Hmm, I’m kind of at a loss for words here. I read almost daily how the council is strapped for cash and is resorting to pay freezes etc. Now I read that they are building a new offices. Am I missing something here? Very bizare.
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These people forgotten that they are there to work? To work on OUR behalf, on OUR business paid for by US..the tax payers. Nice idyllic views with a stress free enmvironment and access to all amenities don’t even come into it. In the real world we’re all having to cut our cloth accordingly so I expect the public sector to do the same. Get a grip on reality get on with your job, take this rubbish and shred it and leave the Quarry out of it.
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interestingly the coalition cut your local services like rubbish collection, pot hole repair, schools, libraries, grass cutting, buses etc, by more than any other single department recently nearly 30%!!! But town and parish councils seem to have escaped the axe so far
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hang on peeps, read the article i think they are planning on building something which will make the town council money, so its going to mean less money for the counicl taxpeyr
WELL DONE SHREWSBURY COUNCIL
i only wish shropshire coucnil were a bit more entrepreneurial like that!
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idiots, if there is any money spare it should be spent on keeping frontline staff in a job and stimulating the economy and small businesses in particular
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I have found it quite interesting to note that as the recession gets deeper, more and more of the comments from public employees tend to include the phrase “I’m not complaining”. This subject has elicited several comments containing that phrase or similar.
Is this a sign that reality is suddenly dawning that it will probably affect them as well and that the best policy is to keep heads down and not offend or criticise their bosses on high?
Understandable, but it highlights the need for the general public to be ever more vigilant and keep these council managers in check. As times get tougher, I’m sure that we’ll see more and more attempts to widen their brief to make themselves seem more relevant and justify their continued existence of their positions. A bid to use public funds to buy into the cremation business and compete against struggling private companies using taxpayers’ money without restraint is but one that springs to mind.
The public should be vigilant and those of us who don’t run the risk of losing our jobs by offending or exposing council managers and councillors should ensure that the proud tradition of comment and criticism is carried forward.
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Well Rodney, in my case I’m not complaining about the fact that my main employment is in a council office which is not fit for purpose. I’m not complaining because I know that many private sector employees endure similar or worse working environments.
My experience is gained through having worked in both sectors and currently being employed across both. I wouldn’t automatically assume that everyone who for example works in finance is employed in similar opulent spleandour to workplaces such as the Canary Wharf development in East London. Unfortunately, it is deemed acceptable by others to draw their incorrect conclusions/lies that I as a public servant work in sumptuous surroundings because they’ve perhaps seen the SCC building on Frankwell or similar premises.
It has nothing to do with not being seen to criticise or offend my bosses on high, because trust me, if there is something which justifies critisism, then I won’t shy away from doing so. However, I will also take issue with those who post lies and misinformation based on one sided media reporting (see Daily Mail) and the constant smoke screens and lack of knowledge of actual fact in all matters concerning the public sector.
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No assumptions made by me on the quality of your work environment Mark. I’m quite aware that many people in both sectors have to work in inadequate buildings.
I must say that I also salute your courage in your determination to criticise or offend your managers should a justifiable need arise.
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sounds sensible to me as a taxpyaer i would rather a council building which made money than a rented office which is dead money
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How much money do we think they’ll actually make from this wedding thing!
40 a year maybe at what £500 a hire… £20k?? Hardly a good return on £1.2m is it!
What’s happening to Rowley’s Mansion??
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they should publish the full costs so people can decide on the basis of facts not assumptions, if its cheaper to be based in the Quarry, well go for it, if its cheaper to rent an old shop or rowleys house or whatever then do that, i dont really care about the town council, what do they even do? just chose the cheapest option please
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Thats fine, but since we are facing a 25% reduction in public services don’t be too surprised when I reduce my council tax contributions by a similar amount, whilst you let Whitehall rot with 24 hour security.
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i would rather the town council had more powers, its the county council in shire hall you want to get rid of, they’re the ones with 90% of the budget and theyre where the real waste and inefficiency lies
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#20 Pip, I read that Kim Ryley, chief exec of Shropshire Council has decided that the swimming pool should be relocated and a hotel built in it’s place.
This would be very handy for the town councillors who see themselves as ambassadors of the town to entertain visitors and promote the town, supposedly.
It’s like a nice club of officers and councillors who by and large look after each other at taxpayers expense whilst making out at the same time they are ‘outraged’!
This tier of the councillor system is apparently to represent us at a more local level but as many have said here it is probably just beauracratic and unnecessary.
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that sounds like a good idea to me
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Quarry – rear of lodge and out of site of the main park – don’t see why an office can’t be built there. Could be a cheaper option than buying a property in the town centre and will not be throwing money away in rent. Possible income generator – weddings, functions, events in the Quarry. This idea should be given some thought before being dismissed on the back of a few of the usual spiteful anti-anything public sector comments.
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yeah more hotels in town would be a good plan but why not a really posh 5 star which has its own pool, then often you can pay for a swim only at some hotels anyway, so town centre residnets still catered for but a big shiny new out of town municipal pool would be created too, win win surely ?
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shrewsbury had its medieval centre ripped out by cretin planners, the present day cretin planners are alive and well trying to ruin the centre of ludlow.
in the medieval ages shrewsbury was the centre of government for 200 years and successive kings held their court in shrewsbury. it is time for planners not to be seen heard or present. hands off our quarry. can you not fit your 17 staff in a derilict public convenience in the ancient borough
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11!!HG. Walking the dogs in the quarry on Sunday I went to look at the greenhouses ,the victorian greenhouse is as you suspected being left to deteriorate, there is quite a lot of glass missing and the ridge is bowing, a good gale blowing will put paid to it.It was only a couple of years ago that the Council had a idea of moving the children’s play area to the top of the Quarry and using the vacated area for a car park to serve the swimming baths The council will never learn to leave the quarry as it is. As for a hotel,planning permission was given for one to be built on the riverside 3 years ago, what as happened to that.
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the town council should be in the town centre, frankwell nor the quarry is appropriate for this, the town square is the core of the town and the new music hall will over look it, this will become a focal point for the town and tourist information (often a role for town&parish councils) they should go in there, rowleys house is the backup option i guess…
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