Letter: Loss of Shirehall is major blow to pride and prestige of county
The announcement that Shropshire is to lose its Shirehall from April 2014 has been surprisingly low key considering the momentous nature of the decision.
Workers will be moved to other buildings around the county and some asked to work from home, as reported in the Shropshire Star.
The milestone in upper Abbey Foregate reminds passers-by of the pride and pre-eminence that the Shirehall's predecessor once commanded.
The current building has many drawbacks and is expensive to run. However there is a vestige of county pride in its design – by Ralph Crowe, the county architect in the mid 1960s.
It does get a mention in the 2006 Pevsner guide (The Buildings of England – Shropshire, John Newman & Nikolaus Pevsner) with its "ovoid ashlar faced council chamber on pilotis at the front of the building".
In every shire county in England, save Shropshire, the county hall or shire hall remains a significant building.
Staffordshire has just rebuilt its county hall at no 1 Staffordshire Place near the heart of the town. Modern in appearance it is a focus for some civic pride.
Cheshire West & Chester has its imposing HQ building in Nicholas Street. To the south, Herefordshire has its tree clad Brockington campus and Worcestershire has its county hall campus off the Spetchley Road.
In Shropshire we seem to be saying such county pride counts for less than short term financial savings. We will make do and mend and find a building, quite possibly a shed on an out-of-town business park, when we need it and when the economy permits.
We will sell off this asset now, probably at a knock down price for run-of-the-mill housing – for someone must pay for shirehall's demolition before the land can be re-used. From this base when can the county expect to again develop a county hall estate that can rival its neighbours?
Is this a fair summary of the situation? Is there a longer term plan to restore a shire hall with some style, dignity and centrality in the county town? If there is, we should hear it. If there isn't, the people of Shropshire should be asked if they want to be the only county in England without a county hall.
Michael Willmot, Shrewsbury
