Woolies site set for Gateway
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A new one-stop shop for public
services in a prominent town centre location has taken a step
forward.
Swale councillors have approved a
recommendation to double their financial contribution to the
Gateway project from £150,000 to £300,000, at a meeting on
Wednesday.
It is a joint venture with Kent County
Council that would be based in the former Woolworths building.
The extra money will come from the
Swale’s Partnership Fund, which would essentially be repaid through
an expected under-spend of revenue money from the 2009/10
budget.
Swale will also make a further yearly
contribution of £55,000 to revenue costs, which is the amount spent
on the running costs of the existing premises in Trinity Road.
Other partners have already given
their space requirements, these are: Libraries, KCC adult
education, KCC adult social services and Seashells.
But organisations including
AmicusHorizon, Kent Police and various health providers are also in
discussions about getting involved.
If all partners sign up the project
will see the whole of the former shop transformed, but in a worst
case scenario where no other contributing partners take part, KCC
has said the scheme could continue on a reduced basis just from the
ground floor initially with Swale’s contribution remaining at
£150,000.
Abdool Kara, Swale’s chief executive,
has given his backing to the project saying it will be of huge
benefit to the town. He said: "My ambitions are that we have an
absolutely excellent, top drawer, cutting-edge facility for local
people.
"There is some anxiety from local
traders about what it will do to the town centre but all the
statistics from the other Gateways say it will increase
footfall.
"It will be a focal point for the town
and people will travel to it and use the other shops."
His sentiments were echoed by council
leader Cllr Andrew Bowles, who hopes the Gateway will encourage
more people to Sheerness town centre and said it was a key part of
the regeneration of Sheerness.
Before any structural work can start,
planning permission for the change of use from retail is
needed.
The council’s offices in Trinity Road, Sheerness, are not fit
for purpose and in the next two to three years will need major
refurbishment.
The cost of repairs to remedy faults
including rising damp, a bowed pitched roof, rotting timber in the
flat roof areas, a new boiler and heating system and redecorating,
has been estimated at £215,000.
Councillors were expected to approve
'disposing’ of the property as soon as possible, while still
honouring the contract with tenant Sharrock Insurance Services,
whose lease expires in 2011.
Friday, March 19 2010
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