Whitchurch Civic Centre repairs hinge on lottery bid

Whitchurch Town Council and Shropshire Council are pushing ahead with the £1.6 million work on the civic centre, including almost £700,000 of improvements, expected to start in March.

But hopes for the second phase of work on the 40-year-old building are pinned on a grant from the National Lottery – and there is no plan B.

George Candler, the project executive for Shropshire Council, insists it is not a problem.

He said: "Over £600,000 has been earmarked for phase one of the Whitchurch Civic Centre project including £314,000 from the Market Towns Revitalisation Programme and £120,000 from Whit-church Town Council.

"We are exploring other funding options including an application to the Big Lottery Reaching Communities fund to support additional development.

"Shropshire Council will continue to work with the town council to source alternative funds."

The plans for phase one were revealed at a meeting in the civic centre on Tuesday and include a new facade, redesigned foyer and a mezzanine floor.

At the meeting Mr Chandler claimed funding opportunities 'come up all the time' so he was confident work will continue inside the building and in the main hall.

But Whitchurch councillor Alistair Young did not think the scheme has been properly planned. He said: "You don't plan a £1 million project and don't have the funding.

"The people of Whitchurch have been hoodwinked into this. It looks like it will end up half finished. It is a total mess. Why should the lottery fund a local government building?"

Project manager Neil Wilcox said phase two was still 'an aspiration'.