People to get their say on £14m centre
PEOPLE in Stockport are being asked for their views on a controversial £14m ‘learning and discovery centre’ that could become a new home for the town’s central library.
Provisionally dubbed ‘Stockroom’ it is envisaged as a ‘cultural and community hub,’ providing a range of services, amenities and attractions.
Bigger than a football field, it would repurpose 135,000 sq ft of retail space around Adlington Walk, at Merseyway shopping centre.
However, the potential relocation of the town’s library service from its Grade II-listed home on the A6 has proven highly contentious.
Town hall chiefs last year promised a full consultation over any proposal to move library services amid a growing backlash from angry campaigners and residents.
Bosses admit government funding could be ‘at risk’ if a library is not included in the final plans. But the first stage of a public consultation officially an ‘engagement exercise’ - is now underway.
The council is considering a range of uses for Stockroom from culture, leisure and hospitality to spaces for businesses, community groups, and health services.
It also has the potential to be used for weddings and other events, as well as providing a ‘single doorway’ for council services, ‘best in class’ new toilets and better facilities for disabled people.
Now the authority is calling on people to shape the future of Stockroom by telling it what activities and services they want to bring to the town centre.
Should residents indicate support for a ‘21st century library’ at Stockroom, bosses have pledged there will be a ‘formal consultation’ before any decision is made on relocating services from Central Library.
Support for relocating other council services might also mean they could be moved from their current location.
Councillor David Sedgwick, cabinet member for citizen focus and engagement, has urged residents to have their say.
He said: “We are very proud to have secured £14.5m of Government funding to deliver a new learning and discovery centre which we are confident will bring hundreds of thousands of additional visitors to Stockport town centre and transform a key town centre location into a valuable mixed-purpose facility for children and young people of all ages.
“We are now embarking on an extensive engagement exercise in July where we want our residents to help shape what goes into Stockroom.
“I would encourage everyone to take part and help us create something special in Stockport.”
Stockroom would repurpose large areas of empty retail space in the Merseyway shopping centre around Adlington Walk into a mixed-use learning, culture and events space.
It is described as an ‘inclusive and accessible space’ which will help people learn new skills, practise arts and crafts, enjoy live music and performances and benefit from cutting-edge learning and IT facilities.
Bosses say it would be ‘packed with activities’ to attract people of all ages and tastes to Stockport town centre. The council cites the Idea Store in London, Storyhouse in Chester and the Lightbox in Barnsley as inspiration for its vision of putting ‘learning, cultural and community services right in the heart of the high street.’ As well as increasing footfall the council says it also wants Stockroom to inspire a love of learning in children and young people and help the borough to address the underperformance of educational attainment, particularly at ‘A’ Level and among children in disadvantaged areas or with special educational needs or disabilities.
The engagement excercise will run until August 1. A survey to gauge residents’ views on initial plans and encourage additional suggestions is available here: stockroomstockport. uk.engagementhq.com on
More information can be found here: visit https:// stockroomstockport.uk. engagementhq.com
Leaflets are also available at council run premises across the borough and at Merseyway