A new £2.7million Customer Service Centre for Billingham has moved a step closer as the demolition of the town’s former Art Gallery and Council offices gets under way.
The centre, which is planned for the site, will house a public library, customer services for Stockton Council and Tristar Homes and Billingham Town Council’s headquarters. It is expected to open by the end of 2014. Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Councillor Mike Smith, signalled the start of the demolition works by sounding a klaxon horn.
Councillor Smith said: “This is another piece of the jigsaw of the £25million transformation of Billingham Town Centre and it’s exciting to see another key element of our plans getting under way.
“Customer service centres have been hugely successful and popular elsewhere in the Borough and this one will attract people into Billingham Town Centre, generating additional footfall for local businesses.
“We want to give the people of Billingham the town centre they expect and deserve and the changes are happening at quite a pace now.”
Meanwhile, a further £2.3million of works on high quality paving, seating, feature lighting and a new canopy for the bandstand are progressing as the Council works in partnership with town centre owners Stockland.
Billingham Health Centre in Queensway has recently been refurbished and John Whitehead Park is set to benefit from a £260,000 scheme to create a new skate park and BMX area, improved tennis courts and a multi-use games area.
The demolition of the former Art Gallery and Council offices is being carried out by contractor, MGL Demolition, and is expected to be completed by the end of July.
For further info about investment in Billingham Town Centre, visit www.stockton.gov.uk/billingham
