Residents urged to have their say on Burton library relocation

Burton residents can have their say on proposals to relocate the town 's library to the Market Hall at a series of events beginning this week.

The Burton Town Deal Board has secured £22.8m of the Government 's Towns Fund money. The library proposal is one of seven connected projects that aim to revitalise the town centre economy, bringing more footfall and businesses into the town centre.

The library proposal include state-of-the-art facilities transform the Market Hall and help to preserve an important part of the town 's heritage.

The building would house a range of community services, including support available for small businesses, exhibition and flexible performance space, meeting rooms, a caf� and more. Increased visitors to this area of town would also help to regenerate Market Place and bring in new businesses.

If the library were to move to the town 's Market Hall it would also create the opportunity to regenerate the current library site as a key part of the major waterfront retail and leisure development the Town Deal Board plans to create fulfilling a long-term ambition of many local people for a “marina style ” destination for the town.

Next week, the first in a series of public events takes place throughout the town.

A public question and answer event will be held at Burton Albion 's Pirelli Stadium on August 4 along with drop-in and booked timeslot sessions throughout the eight weeks.

People will also be able to have their say online before the consultation period closes on 10 September. People are being asked about what they think about the proposed relocation, the library service and how it could be improved.

Drop-in consultation events are taking place throughout Burton this week.

People can book on the events now at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/burtonlibraryconsultation and fill in the online survey at the website.

Ben Robinson, chairman of the Burton Town Deal Board, said: “The library and enterprise hub project is one of seven which forms part of our Town Deal proposals.

“It 's a fantastic opportunity to improve and preserve the heritage Market Hall and provide first class community facilities in a more suitable and easily accessible location. This would be a big project for the town, so we want people to have their say.

“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. ”

Pictured: A CGI of what the proposed new library may look like