View plans and get involved in Oswestry’s Community Hub

Oswestry residents and library users are invited to view and contribute to the development of plans for the new Community Hub in Oswestry from this week.

Displays of the plans are now in Oswestry Library and Castle View, and people will be given the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on what they would like to see at the hub.  Feedback cards will be available from the library desk.

The consultation is planned to investigate the concerns of some users of the service and address them as appropriate, to move forward with proposals concerning how the hub could work, and to identify the services people would like to see delivered there. 

Currently some of the space within the wider library building is unused.  The unused space offers the opportunity to explore additional options in deciding on how best to deliver any new service provision on the site in the future. 

Our aim is to try to make the maximum use of the facilities that we have, and to improve the range of community services provided at the library site to make best use of public resources. 

Having a community hub at Oswestry Library will improve the range of services to local residents, and will give people the convenience of accessing services in one place, rather than going to different locations, which will be of particular benefit to vulnerable people.

Tina Woodward, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member with responsibility for customer care, said: 

“Oswestry’s Community Hub is a work in progress and the views of all involved will assist us in delivering this facility for Oswestry.

“We want to ensure that local residents and users of the Oswestry Library are informed and involved in the development of the hub.  This is why we are asking people to come along and view the plans and find out more about the hub. 

“This will enable us to address any concerns that may come forward during this process, where possible and appropriate to do so. 

“This new hub gives us an opportunity to enhance the service provision for our customers in Oswestry, as well as making the best use of our resources.”  

Further information

Shropshire Council is working with other public and voluntary sector organisations in Oswestry to create a ‘one-stop shop’. 

This will provide customers with access to a wide range of services such as housing, planning and adult social care as well as other information in one place.

Many public, voluntary and community organisations have taken a keen interest in joining the hub.  The following organisations will be moving into the hub from June 2012 and there will be an opportunity for more organisations to join after this date: 

• HM Revenue and Customs
• Citizen Advice Bureau (CAB)
• Age UK
• Jubilee Money Advice Service
• Bromford Support
• Equity Housing Group
• The Qube, Oswestry 

The new community hub at Oswestry Library will help us to provide better, more modern facilities for both public and voluntary organisations and we have been working closely with them to ensure their needs are met. 

We are sure that all of the public and voluntary groups who take up the opportunity will be very pleased with the community hub, and we will be working hard to make sure that local residents reap the benefits of this fantastic deal.