Empty building to become youth hub in Shrewsbury
From left: Neil Richards of Caterpillar, Councillor Alan Mosley and senior community action manager Steve Cunningham at the former Salop Glass building.
An empty building in Castlefields and Ditherington is being converted to a centre for youth activities after local people joined forces with major local stakeholders and a leading town business.
The former Salop Glass building in Ditherington Road is scheduled to be demolished as part of the Flax Mill Maltings redevelopment, and has been lying empty for years. However, with the redevelopment work still some years away, plans are under way to turn the building into a youth centre featuring indoor skateboarding and BMX ramps, along with pool, basketball and other activities – all provided with minimal financial outlay.
Shropshire Councillor Alan Mosley had the idea and then formed a partnership involving local residents, young people, Shropshire Council’s leisure and youth services, Severnside Housing and the local police team to plan the work and then operate the facility.
The project, which is being coordinated by Shropshire Council’s senior community action officer, Steve Cunningham, also includes the Friends of the Flax Mill Maltings who aim to take on a lease for the buildings as part of their objective to bolster community involvement around the site.
About 40 volunteers from Shrewsbury business Caterpillar Remanufacturing will help get the project off the ground by building partitions, clearing the site, painting the premises and erecting the ramps and equipment in preparation for its opening later in the summer.
Alan Mosley, Shropshire and Town Councillor for Castlefields and Ditherington, said:
“This will be a great facility for local young people and for others from farther afield. The building will come to life and many thanks go to Caterpillar and their staff for their wonderful support in making it possible. It is excellent to see the project taking shape, based on real local partnership working. Already there is great interest being shown by young people, and local residents are keen to help run it alongside the partners. Anyone interested should email me at alan.mosley@shropshire.gov.uk.”
Chair of Shrewsbury Business Chamber, Peter Bettis, who made the offer of help on Caterpillar’s behalf at a recent Shrewsbury Local Joint Committee meeting, said:
“I would like to thank Team Caterpillar for their generous offer of help to refurbish the old Salop Glass building in Castlefields and Ditherington for young people and local residents. It is also a privilege for me as an employee to be part of this team that’s involved with many local community projects and activities throughout the year.”
All members of the partnership and Caterpillar met at the site recently to discuss the plans, and work will take place on 8 and 15 July, with the centre hoped to be open later in the summer.
Ben Reed, engineering manager at Caterpillar, said:
“We are delighted to be able to offer help to this local community project. The local partnership is committed to providing a centre for young people in the area to engage in indoor sporting and leisure activities, and we are excited to be able to offer our help to the great work they are doing. This project gives the volunteers the opportunity to work on a meaningful project outside of their day jobs for the regeneration of a redundant building.”
