Warwickshire News Mine

It’s all part of Warwickshire County Council’s commitment to improving customer service and access to its services.

From Monday 10th December for approximately two weeks, motorists will be asked to avoid the roadway directly outside Shire Hall at Market Place as it will be temporarily closed to make way for construction vehicles involved in the development of the new one stop shop. Pedestrian access will, however, remain in place.

The closure is expected to last until Friday 21st December at the latest and an alternative diversionary route will be sign-posted.

The one stop shop project is being led by construction company, Morgan Ashurst.

Much preparation and construction work has already taken place, including the laying of foundations in an internal courtyard area of Shire Hall, which will be in-filled to extend the old reception area and create the new one stop shop.

Now work is set to begin on erecting the basic steel structure of the one stop shop in the internal courtyard.

Due to restrictions on space in the enclosed courtyard, a large crane will be located outside Shire Hall next week (week commencing 10th December) to lift 40 tonnes of steel girders over the three-storey council building and into position in the courtyard.

The following week, a large concrete pumping station will be brought in to continue the construction work.

The new one stop shop, which will revolutionise the way people in Warwick access local information and services, will open next year.

‘Warwickshire Direct’ will be launched in spring 2008 in what is currently the reception area of Shire Hall, which is being developed to incorporate additional services from both Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council.
 
Shire Hall’s reception has been relocated to a temporary home for the duration of the redevelopment but the opening hours for the temporary reception remain from 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 5pm on Friday.

John Rawlinson, Morgan Ashurst managing director in the West said: “We apologise for any convenience the temporary road closure will cause to local people.”

He adds: “We hope Warwickshire County Council staff and the local community are now looking forward to seeing the building take shape over the coming weeks.”

Kushal Birla, Head of Customer Service and Access at Warwickshire County Council, said:  “Once the work has been completed there will be a major long-term benefit for people.

“Warwickshire County Council wants to improve customer service and the way people connect with the services we offer. The redevelopment of Shire Hall’s reception to create the ‘Warwickshire Direct’ one stop shop provides an excellent opportunity for us to encourage people to access both county and district council services.”

Services, information and advice from both the county and district council will be located together on one site at ‘Warwickshire Direct’, enabling local residents to have their queries answered straight away.

People will be able to access a whole host of services at the centre, from enquiring about their council tax and housing benefit to applying for a disabled parking blue badge or asking about free school meals. Discussions are taking place about potentially opening the new one stop shop on a Saturday.

Councillor Peter Fowler, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Performance and Development, said: “The aim is to bring a range of services, including county and district council services, closer to people in Warwick and I am sure that the ‘Warwickshire Direct’ one stop shop will achieve that. It will be a fantastic facility for local residents.”

Councillor Norman Pratt, Portfolio Holder for Customer Services, Warwick District Council, said: “The one stop shop at Shire Hall, Warwick will make accessing council services easier for yet another community in Warwick district. Working In partnership with the public and voluntary sectors, one stop shops will be available in other parts of the district.

"There’s no need for residents to worry about which council provides which service. We’ll be able to answer your query at the first point of contact."

The ‘Warwickshire Direct’ one stop shop at Warwick is the latest phase of an exciting pilot project involving Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council.

It follows the success of ‘Warwickshire Direct – Kenilworth’, a similar centre that has benefited thousands of residents in Kenilworth since it opened in October 2005.

‘Warwickshire Direct – Whitnash’, another joint venture involving the county and district council in collaboration with Whitnash Town Council and Warwickshire Police’s local Safer Neighbourhoods team, will be officially launched on 19th December on the premises of Whitnash Library.

‘Warwickshire Direct’ one stop shops have also been opened elsewhere in the county. The county’s second one stop shop was officially opened in Bedworth in November last year and ‘Warwickshire Direct – North Warwickshire’ opened at North Warwickshire Borough Council’s headquarters in Atherstone in April this year. ‘Warwickshire Direct – Nuneaton & Bedworth’ officially opened at Nuneaton Town Hall on 1st October.

Link to WCC