Site to get £230,000 facelift

Ludlow's Visitor Information Centre and Museum will undergo a £230,000 facelift after county council chiefs won funding from the European Union.

The money, which also comes from Shropshire County Council, will be spent on improvements to access, displays and lay-out.

Today Jim Roads, head of libraries and information at Shropshire County Council, said the scheme was being funded by the county and by the European Regional Development Fund.

He said: "The scheme is jointly funded and the combined budget is around £230,000."

Mr Roads said officials wanted to give visitors easier access and better information.

He said the complex, which is managed by Shropshire County Council and is on the ground floor of Ludlow Assembly Rooms, in Castle Square, was essential to the town. The external appearance of the building would not be affected but the inside will be improved.

Automatic doors will be installed in the lobby and there will be improved access for the disabled.

New display cases in the corridor will tell the story of Ludlow and south Shropshire.

Today Councillor Barbara Craig, County Council's cabinet member for community services, said: "As a recent mystery shopper inspection showed, Ludlow provides a great visitor information service and the museum is also much loved and appreciated by residents and visitors alike."

From Monday, visitor services will be provided from the Ludlow Library and Museum Resource Centre, in Parkway, off Corve Street. The Visitor Information Centre will be back in Castle Square for Easter 2008.