Work set to start on Anstice refurbishment in Madeley . . .
Madeley Town Council has awarded the contract to refurbish the Anstice Memorial Hall to Shropshire Building Contractors company Pave Aways Limited.
The project will bring the building back into full use and accessible to the whole community. Work starts on 25 February and will last six months.
At a Town Council meeting this week, councillors unanimously supported the £1.2 million upgrade scheme to modernise the Anstice.
The Town Council working with ACT has £618,109 funding secured or covered by reserves for this project, but needed to find a further £586,680. Because of prudent financial budgeting, the Town Council are able to take out a Public Works loan without any need to increase the Town Council precept.
The renovation of the original vaulted ballroom on the upper floor will provide a great affordable venue for local events, especially with the new lift providing access for all. The ground floor requires more extensive work, but will retain original detail, such as the Maws tiled floor and wooden stairs.
It will bring the library back to its original home with a First Point (help-desk) reception on the ground floor, fully adaptable multi use space and toilets /cloak room linked to a café. It will create a great interactive environmentally friendly zone where staff and volunteers can engage with the local community and visitors.
Once the work is completed, the running of the building will be taken over by the Anstice Community Trust (ACT), a registered charity run by local people.
Following a competitive tender process, the Town Council awarded the contract to Pave Aways Limited, a private building contractor based in Oswestry. They have worked on over £41 million of refurbishment projects since 2012, including over £4 million for Telford & Wrekin Council, such as improvements to Brookside Community Centre and redevelopment of Hadley Centre.
Cllr Carrie MacKenzie, Madeley Town Council’s Vice Chair said:
“These are exciting times and the work on Anstice will build upon the previous improvements carried out over the past few years in Madeley centre”.
We would like to thank all the organisations that are offering funding support, including Telford & Wrekin Council, Veolia and Power to Change.
For more information and to follow the refurbishment process please see out dedicated ‘Anstice Refurbishment’ page under Projects, or CLICK HERE
