Market Drayton community centre design shipped out by Brexit

Market Drayton Town Council has scrapped creating the new centre out of a shipping container after claiming costs rose by about 20 per cent over night.

Instead, the council said the building, which is currently being built by Longlands play area, would look more traditional.

It had been hoped the facility would have been built by now, but the project has fallen behind schedule and it is not expected to be finished and open to the public until the new year.

Julie Jones, town clerk, said: "It is on its way. Two employees are in place and working well.

"The building is just over half way up now. We have made amendments and it will be a bit more of a friendly place.

"We are not on schedule. There have been various issues and I wouldn't expect it to be open until the new year. Once the building is up there will be work to do inside such as the kitchen.

"We have changed the ship container design. Shipping containers come from abroad and because of Brexit the cost raise by about 20 per cent over night meaning it was no longer viable.

"It is not being made out of brick but it is of a similar construction and will be a more traditional building."

The centre will include a cafe, office and meeting area. It could also feature an educational support zone, IT and digital workshops, social enterprise, book-keeping and family reading sessions.

It has been made possible thanks to funding from Market Drayton Town Council and a £375,726 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

An event has previously been held on the site to give people the chance to view and comment on the design for the new facilities.

Members of the town council are due to receive an update on the project at a meeting tonight(THURS).

The previously run-down play area at Longlands has also been transformed with a new adventure play area.

"We have received positive feedback on the play area, people seem to love it," Mrs Jones said.

"We have also completed one for toddlers as we have taken on land off Cherry Way."

Meanwhile, the public toilets by the town's swimming centre and skate park remain closed after they were vandalised.

The basins in the female toilets were smashed and wet toilet roll was thrown on the ceiling and walls.

Mrs Jones added: "We need to get our heads around this one and talk about what we are going to do."