County Hall cash could help pay for HQ revamp
HARBOROUGH’S museum and library could be revamped under a County Hall proposal to invest up to £1.6m in the regeneration of Harborough Council’s HQ.
Leicestershire County Council’s ruling cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss plans to join Harborough District Council in its proposals to transform its base at the former Symington’s factory in Adam and Eve Street.
The move would see County Hall invest up to £1.6m in the project as well as move staff into the building from its existing offices at Brooklands in Northampton Road, which would eventually be sold off.
It would also see the library and museum refurbished, and investigations carried out into the possibilities for the two to share space within the building.
Proposals for a revamped HQ released by the Harborough Council earlier this year show the library’s reference section moving to the first floor, with a café between it and the museum.
Those same proposals showed space for county council workers on the second floor while Harborough Council offices would occupy the top floor.
The county council says any investment it pledges to make next week would be dependent on Harborough Council deciding to go ahead with its proposal on April 30.
Harborough Council’s plans would also see the market moved to allow a major retailer to move into the Market Hall.
County Hall says its proposals are part of plans to have fewer but better buildings, saving around £700,000 per year from reduced running costs.
Byron Rhodes, the county council’s cabinet member for property, said: “By investing now, we can have better offices in Harborough, including a revamped museum and library, instead of spending more money on finding another building in due course.”
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Weather for Market Harborough
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
