New civic offices 'key to Telford Southwater success'

A new town library and civic offices complex is the key to kick-starting a £250 million redevelopment of Telford town centre, it was claimed today.

Bosses of the Southwater Events Group, which is behind the scheme, spoke up in support of it in the wake of criticism of the planned library and offices from Labour members of Telford & Wrekin Borough Council.

Labour this week launched an e-petition against the new complex and group leader Councillor Keith Austin said early indications were that residents were outraged the council was spending millions on lavish offices in a prime site in the light of the Government cuts.

However, the Southwater Events Group said the new library and civic offices would be at the heart of a planned convention quarter.

Bosses today released photographs of how work is progressing on a new events suite for Telford International Centre which scheduled for completion in July and is part of the multi-million pound redevelopment.

Group chief executive Tom Gray said: "We've worked in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council, the Homes and Communities Agency, and Advantage West Midlands to bring this development to life.

"The council's masterplan for the Southwater area will create a thriving night time economy including new bars and restaurants, which will be vital in terms of helping us to attract new business.

Councillor Keith Austin, Leader of the Labour Group on Telford & Wrekin Council, hit back at the suggestion by the Leader of the authority that the Labour Group were undermining the confidence of investors in the development of Southwater Square at Telford Centre by suggesting that civic offices could be re-located elsewhere.

Councillor Austin today said Labour was "100 per cent" behind Southwater and meetings with investors had been friendly and positive.

But he added: "If the whole basis of the development was reliant on the building of civic offices then there would be cause for great concern, but we do not believe that is the case.

"What this Tory administration fails to tell everyone is that they are borrowing millions to build offices. This will impact on the revenue budget and will mean cuts to services and jobs."

By Simon Hardy