Shropshire Star

Call to spare council offices from demolition and keep for community

Campaigners have insisted former council offices could be a valuable resource for the community – if the building is spared from demolition.

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Dr Chris Jephcott, president of Bridgnorth and District Civic Society, said the Westgate offices in the town should be made available for public use and expressed disappointment at plans to raze the building to the ground to make way for homes.

It comes after a public campaign to save the building which has attracted the support of more than 1,000 people was dealt a blow.

Council officers have recommended that the building is demolished and replaced by homes and the proposals will be discussed at a meeting of Shropshire Council's south planning committee on January 13.

The move has also been criticised by Charlotte Barnes, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for the Ludlow constituency which includes Bridgnorth, while Bridgnorth Town Council has previously claimed the site should be used to generate employment or be turned into a hotel.

More than 1,000 people signed a petition set up by Bridgnorth Community Group – an organisation set up in direct response to the housing plans – calling for the building to be turned into a community asset, protecting it from development. Heritage experts from across the country also backed the appeal, but the bid was rejected by Shropshire Council last month.

Officials at Shropshire Council have claimed the plan to demolish the offices was the authority's best option.

Dr Jephcott said: "We think this is a community resource and it should be used for by the public.

"It is a large site so there's no reason why some of it should not be used for housing, so long as it's much needed affordable housing and not the large executive type homes.

"But in view of the public expressions of concern it's extremely disappointing Shirehall has decided to drive this through.

"When I was a district councillor a lot of money was spent on Westgate and could be a very useful site."

Mrs Barnes said: "The way the council administration handled this petition was absolutely disgraceful.

"There was no opportunity for any debate or for Paul Passant, who was delivering the petition, to reply to the misinformation put forward by the council.

"Lib Dem councillors insisted on a recorded vote in the hope that Bridgnorth's councillors would stand up for their community.

"But one abstained and three voted to sell the building. I tried to speak on the issue but was ignored by the chairman."

Councillor Mike Owen, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for resources, finance and support, said: "Due to a limited number of options, all of which were considered, the decision has been made to sell the Westgate site following a full council vote."

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