Opportunity for people to hear about proposals for the future of the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre

People are being invited to find out more about some exciting proposals for the future of the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms at an open day on Wednesday 11 December 2013. 

The open day, which will take place from 3pm until 7pm, will be held at the centre and will include information from South Shropshire Housing Association, their partner Grow Cook Learn and Shropshire Council’s library service. 

Lee Chapman, Chairman of the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre Advisory Board, and a Shropshire Councillor for Church Stretton and Craven Arms, said:

“The day has been arranged following an agreement in principle, back in September, by the Advisory Board to hold discussions with South Shropshire Housing Association (SSHA) and their partner Grow Cook Learn on the possible transfer of the Discovery Centre and neighbouring Onny Meadows to SSHA. 

“Since then further detailed proposals have been drawn up, and these are what we want to talk to people about on the day.” 

Grow Cook Learn is the successor to Grow Cook Share, a local food project working in the Ludlow and Craven Arms areas to support people to grow and cook their own food and to share their skills, knowledge and excess produce within the local community. 

Grow Cook Learn’s vision for the Discovery Centre is: “to create a training centre for food-related employment, a leisure resource for local people, and a vibrant visitor attraction demonstrating the link between food production and the landscape of the Shropshire Hills”.

Mike Owen, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for asset transfer, said:

“Grow Cook Learn’s plan to run the centre as a ‘hub’, enhancing visitors’ experience to the local area, providing training in the food-related industries, creating and supporting local jobs, supporting local businesses, and supporting spend in the local area, is a really exciting one.  I think we all agree that it would be a great way to position the centre as a vibrant visitor destination and secure its future.” 

Valerie Meehan, Co-ordinator of Grow Cook Learn, said:

“It is great to finally have the opportunity to share our vision for the centre with the local community.  We look forward to welcoming as many people as possible to the open day to discover more about our plans.” 

The proposed future plans for the centre will mean that the library will move to the Craven Arms Community Centre and will be managed by The Furniture Scheme as a ‘community library’.  

A ‘community library’ means the library is transferred from council ownership to a community organisation with support from the council.  It will be the first wholly-run community library in Shropshire. 

Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, libraries and culture, said:

“There are many advantages for the library being located in the community centre.  It means people will benefit from the library being open for longer, and it also provides people with space and meeting rooms for library activities such as reading groups and storytimes for children.  The library is very much a community facility for local people, and fits in well with the Community Centre as a hub where people meet and get involved in a variety of activities.” 

Jean Jarvis MBE, Chief Executive of The Furniture Scheme, said:

“The furniture scheme took over the management of the community centre last April with the aim of building into a vibrant community hub, and there is now a real buzz to the centre.  We are very much looking forward to welcoming the library service and are confident that we can deliver a great service for local people.  The community centre staff are really excited about the prospect of learning new skills and providing our friendly service to library customers.” 

These proposals are still being discussed and will be subject to the approval of Shropshire Council’s Cabinet on Wednesday 15 January 2014.