£500k bid for Bridgnorth visitor centre still on despite criticism

Bridgnorth Town Council has already spent £10,000 looking into the proposal for land on Severn Park but has now agreed to release a further £850 to bring the scheme before Shropshire Council's planning committee.

Residents, during the annual town council meeting in April, had called for the council to abandon the idea, fearing it would cost too much money and was not needed.

But councillors have voted to move the project forward, which is being put together by Bridgnorth-based Johnson Design Partnership.

Architect Matt Spinks, speaking during Tuesday's Bridgnorth Town Council meeting, said: "We have been working with the town council on this project for a while.

"The first stage was to choose a site on the park with the best position next to the car park, playground, river and near to the road. The plans are currently with planners but it's felt this could become a gateway into the town.

"Part of the design process was to look at what other people have done to get an idea for materials, landscaping and the size and scale of the building.

"This includes things like a cafe, working with the canoe club, tourist information, education area and toilet facilities."

He said a flood risk assessment had been carried out on the site, which meant the building would have to let river water flow underneath when levels were high.

Town mayor, Councillor David Cooper, said there were still various options open to how the building would be run.

He said: "The town council could run it, lease out care of the centre and run the rest, lease out the entire building or look to the private sector to come in as a partner."

Councillor Edward Marshall said he was concerned the building would never make the council money and no-one had seen a viable business plan.

He said: "I would have thought no accountant would accept this proposal as it is.

"Nowhere are there any costs about how this centre will operate and at the moment it's all pie in the sky stuff."

Councillor Ron Whittle said he agreed a new toilet block was needed in Severn Park but he had concerns about how the whole £500,000 building would be funded.