Posted on Thursday 2nd September 2021
An artist's impression of how the new Burton library could look
People have until September 10 to have their say on proposals to relocate Burton’s library to the town’s Market Hall as part of a wider regeneration programme.
The ten-week consultation has included an online survey, drop-in sessions and events and a public meeting at the Pirelli Stadium.
People can complete the survey by visiting: www.staffordshire.gov.uk/burtonlibraryconsultation The consultation period ends on Friday September 10.
The Burton Town Deal Board 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 Towns Fund offers a once in a generation investment in the town – from central Government and at little additional cost to local taxpayers – to help the economy recover from the pandemic and respond over the long-term to people’s changing shopping habits.
The library proposal would see 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 café and more. Increased visitors to this area of town would also help to regenerate the 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 which the Town Deal Board plans to create fulfilling a long-term ambition of many local people for a “marina style” destination for the town.
Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities and culture Victoria Wilson said:
There’s still time for people to complete the survey – this will form an invaluable part of the feedback for the consultation exercise. Our consultation events have given people the opportunity to ask questions and have their say on the library proposals. The online survey enables people who have been unable to attend one of our events to let us know what they think. This engagement process will help us to shape the new library service if it does go ahead.”
Ben Robinson MBE, chairman of the Burton Town Deal Board, added:
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.”