A NEW Digital Innovation Centre for Redditch is a priority says Council Leader Matt Dormer after the borough secured £15.6million from the Government’s Towns Fund.
The money, though less than the £25m Redditch had bid for, still offers huge scope to transform the town, he said.
“To be honest, I’m ecstatic at we’ve received.”
We’re all about raising aspirations in this town and for me the Digital Innovaton Centre is a priority.
“We will now go back to the Board and work up the business case to make sure we have got it absolutely nailed on.”
The cash will almost certainly signal the end of the building that houses Redditch Library.
“I know many people are against the demolition of the library but it is blocking further development of the town centre,” he said.
“You come out of the the Kingfisher and what do you see? Two alleyways on either side of a massive brick building.
“Our aim is to create a library of the future, and once that has been done, we will look to remove that building.
“That will then open up that entire area for outdoor markets, street theatres, buskers and the like.
“We have to make it more inviting for people to come out of the Kingfisher and out to Church Green.
“We will then get more independent shops and restaurants, and make the whole area more attractive for people.”
Also in the pipeline are plans to move the taxi rank to Bates Hill, introduce pull in diagonal parking on Unicorn Hill, improved paving plus much more.
Borough MP Rachel Maclean said the money would ‘turbocharge’ plans to ‘unlock Redditch’.
“I believe this funding really will be game-changing for our town. We will make Redditch a town fit for the 21st Century by investing in skills, tackling climate change and making Redditch a great place to live, work and raise a family,” she said.
Councillor Andy Fry, leader of the Labour group, called for the library to be retained and for further consultation with the public.
“We welcome this money,” he said, “but I still think there is a role for the people of this town to play, to get them involved and keep them involved so it becomes ‘our’ plan and not just a Conservative one.”
