Burton Town Deal board urges support for library relocation

Burton 's Town Deal board is urging residents and businesses to back the relocation of the library to the Market Hall as the key proposal in its bid for government cash.

The government has already indicated that it will give the town £22.8m to spend on regenerating the town centre, and Burton has now got to evaluate seven projects which have been put forward and put a final proposal to the government next March.

One of the seven proposals is the plan to relocate the library, in order to create a public services and enterprise hub at the historic Market Hall building.

However, there has been a lot of comment in the local media and social network forums, much of it questioning the need to move the library.

The Town Deal board says that the relocation is vital, as it is linked to the six other proposals, claiming: “It is an opportunity to redesign the library space so that it is in keeping with a 21st century library offer, and by bringing the library and other services together under one roof at the Market Hall it becomes a vital piece of the wider regeneration plans for the transformation of the Market Place area. ”

The board has warned that if the library proposal is rejected, then the cost of preserving the Market Hall would not be covered by the £22.8m earmarked for regeneration.

The town deal proposal earmarks £7.3m for the Market Hall development.

Burton Town Deal board chairman Ben Robinson said: “The Library and Enterprise Hub project is a fantastic opportunity to improve and preserve the heritage of the Market Hall and provide first class community facilities in a more suitable and easily accessible location.

“By bringing more people in to this part of town, we can attract more businesses and enhance the Market Square as a visitor destination.

“This will also support our plans to develop the area next to the Washlands to make it more appealing for visitors including developing leisure facilities and improve connections to it from the town centre. Together they contribute to our vision for Burton as a forward-thinking town that can utilise our many assets and heritage features as part of its regeneration. ”

Burton Chamber director Chris Plant (pictured) added: “We are fully behind the Town Deal board and look forward to working with businesses on this project, and making it a success in elevating the town centre and boosting the local economy. ”