Demolition closing book on old Telford library
Little was left of Telford's main library today as its demolition continued to make way for a multi-storey car park as part of a £250 million development.
A new, five-storey library is being built as part of the Southwater Square scheme, in Telford town centre, along with a community building, hotel, restaurants and bars. A temporary library has opened in neighbouring Meeting House Point.
Two computers will be housed in library instead of 32 and the number of books has been reduced from 30,000 to 6,000.
All remaining books have been redistributed to other libraries in the borough.
Russell Griffin, spokes-man for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "The new library has opened within Meeting Point House but there will be a much reduced service. There will now be just two computers – a reduction from 32 – and 6,000 books available.
"We're trying to promote the new library in Wellington, which is just six miles down the road.
"The old library is being knocked down to make way for a multi-storey car park.
"A new library will be built as part of the £250 million Southwater Square development."
The Southwater plan also includes an 11-screen Cineworld cinema, an 82-bedroom hotel, eight pubs, restaurants or bars, and improvements to the ice rink.
The plans also include making the ring road around Telford Shopping Centre two-way after getting a Government grant of £6.1 million, in a bid to enable traffic flow more easily and link the centre to Southwater. Among the restaurants and bars moving into the first phase will be Bella Italia, Nando's, Harvester, Chimichanga, Pizza Express, Wagamama and Zizzi.
Premier Inn will also open a hotel on the site. Work is due to be completed by 2014.
Telford Ice Rink has also undergone a £4m refurbishment as part of the regeneration of the town centre area.
