Mammoth developments on the horizon for Craven Arms

Press release 27 September 2007

Mammoth developments on the horizon for Craven Arms

Building on the successes of the last few years, community buildings in Craven Arms have won major investment that will allow them to do even more for local people.

Working together Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre and Craven Arms Community Centre have just been awarded £750,000 from Advantage West Midlands - Rural Regeneration Zone (RRZ). The Discovery Centre has also received additional European funds from the Tourism Action Plan and from Shropshire County Council.

The plan includes moving Craven Arms Library into the Discovery Centre so providing a seven-days-a-week service for local people. There will be major changes to the Secret Hills attraction which will celebrate the people, places and products of the Hills and offer greater appeal to families as well as adult and educational groups. Furthermore, a dynamic glass extension to the building will result in a purpose-built craft and activity workshop for use by visiting artists, local clubs and schools.

Craven Arms Community Centre is looking forward to creating a new entrance and reception area with gallery space, a training kitchen and café area and further small meeting rooms. The improvements will allow the Centre to increase the amount of courses the Centre can offer and provide a pleasant public environment with views over the playing field to Wenlock Edge. The work will begin here during the middle of next year.

"We have seen a terrific upturn in the popularity of the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre over recent years," explains Councillor Barbara Craig, Portfolio Holder for Shropshire County Council Community Services.

"This development project is hugely significant. It will allow us to build on our strengths and move the Centre on to the next level of success. It is an investment due entirely to popularity and increased demand. The fact the two local Centres are working together to create a fantastic facility for the residents of South Shropshire shows how local organisations want to work together to create a sustainable service”. She added, “the new style of library will be an added bonus to residents and visitors to the area. Everyone will benefit from the informal environment where it will be possible to sit down and read a book or a newspaper with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Visitors will also be able to browse the internet, or check their e-mails."

The Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre first opened to the public in 2001 and since then has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the globe. It has won several accolades, including a prestigious RIBA Award for Architecture in 2002. Last year it was named runner-up in the search to find the best ‘Small Visitor Attraction’ in the Heart of England region.

And it followed that up by gaining an Association for Heritage Interpretation award. Last year visitor numbers to the Discovery Centre increased by 60% and the growing success of the Centre means these developments are particularly welcome to improve and refresh every aspect of the site. “Of course we are sorry that the Centre will have to close for a period” says Centre Manager, Joanna Bickerton, “we are concerned many of our regular visitors will be disappointed but it is important for the work to be carried out as quickly as possible and closing the site from Monday 1st October will ensure we will be ready to reopen in the Spring with a refreshed building and improved service.”

Ends

For more information, photo-opportunities and images, please contact: Jo Bickerton or Zoe Griffin, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, Community Services, Shropshire County Council on Tel: 01588 676060

For media enquiry contact Charlie Crowl, Directorate Communications Officer, Community Services, Shropshire County Council on Tel: 01743 253885