Funding secured for Prescot information centre
Knowsley Council has agreed to fund a £1.2m programme to create a new public services centre in Prescot.
The proposals will see the town's One Stop Shop, library and museum brought together into the current One Stop Shop building in Prescot town centre.
Refurbishment work will be carried out to improve the current building and make it suitable to accommodate the library and museum services.
The council said the programme will:
- Support the regeneration of Prescot town centre;
- Substantially increase footfall in the shopping centre to help revitalise the town centre and surrounding areas
- Make financial savings for the council by reducing the current operating costs of providing the services in different buildings
The council said it will conduct a tender exercise in the near future to appoint a contractor to carry out the works.
It is anticipated that construction work will begin in October and the new facilities will open early in 2012.
Mike Harden, deputy chief executive, said: "These are exciting plans which will support our efforts to regenerate Prescot town centre for the benefit of our residents.
"Our library and museum service will benefit from having new, fit-for-purpose facilities and the new town centre location will help increase the number of people using the services.
"In the current financial climate with the severe budget pressures we face, the savings we can make with this programme will help to protect these key services for people who live in Prescot, along with those who work in or visit the town."
In addition to the new public services centre, the council is also investing heavily in new leisure facilities on Warrington Road for Prescot and the development of a strategic framework to shape the future shape and prosperity of the town.
