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£4m super centre planned for Elland
MUNICIPAL buildings in Elland could be combined in a new civic centre costing nearly £4 million.
Councillors are looking to merge their offices, the library, Wainwright Hall, the clinic, and the town's police station on the site of the Coronation Street car park.
The three-storey building could also incorporate meeting rooms, a business enterprise centre and possibly some shops.
The development would be in addition to the 1 million investment planned for the town centre conservation area.
Calderdale Council Cabinet last night agreed to fund a 35,000 feasibility study which might eventually pave the way for a planning application.
The buildings which the new civic centre could replace are not in good condition and would probably be sold to help meet construction costs, according to the council's safer and stronger communities director Robin Tuddenham.
In a report to councillors, he said Elland library was identified as a top priority for replacement in 2008 as the upper floor is unused and has suffered from dry rot.
Wainwright Hall contains several unused rooms and the council's payments office is not ideally located.
The primary care trust and the police use space in Ellen Royd, an Edwardian mansion owned by the council, which is facing growing maintenance bills.
"The eventual business mix will determine the size and design of the new building," according to Mr Tuddenham.
"But the estimated total capital requirement is 3.75 million."
Local businesses, organisations, library and hall users, councillors and residents will be consulted, as well Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency.
Independent Coun Diane Park (Elland) said: "It would be nice to have a new civic building in the centre of the town and I think most people would support that but the loss of parking space could be a major problem."
The council has agreed to set aside 40,000 to match a 400,000 conservation grant from English Heritage for Elland town centre. A further 300,000 could come from highways and engineering services through the Government's transport plan funding and property owners would then have to fund a minimum of 205,250 towards repairs.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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