Warwickshire News Mine

Sharron Davies is to join local school children and various visitors and dignitaries for the official opening of Warwickshire Direct in Shire Hall off Warwick’s Market Square this Saturday.

Popping into the new Warwickshire Direct walk-in centre offers people access to services previously only available individually from Warwickshire County Council and Warwick District Council.

Couple this with the opening of Warwick’s all-new Post Office within the same walk-in centre, and people have never had it so easy when it comes to accessing services.

To celebrate this new service everyone is welcome to a special open day on Saturday, 5th July, from 10am to 4pm to discover what’s on offer and chat to the advisors. There will be refreshments, live music, tours of Shire Hall, face painting and colouring for the little ones, goody bags to take away and a prize draw for a Warwickshire Country Park season ticket or a Family Swim Membership.

Sharron Davies will meet members of local swimming clubs and along with the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire will perform the official ribbon cutting. Gillian Cowley who was the 101st customer to use Warwickshire Direct in Shire Hall since it’s opening on 21st April will join them in the ribbon cutting.

Live music will get underway at 2pm courtesy of First Kill, a young group from Rugby, previous winners of the Rugby FM Undiscovered Youth Talent Contest, who will go on from Shire Hall to play the NEC on 11th July.

The new centre includes dedicated customer service desks, private areas where people can discuss matters confidentially and free internet access.

Here are just some of the services on offer:
Register for Council Tax
Apply for housing and Council Tax benefit
Apply for a disabled parking badge
Arrange for the collection of bulky household items
View planning applications
Report highway problems
Find out about refuse and recycling collections
Apply for a national bus pass
Report an abandoned vehicle
Information on compost bins and the Home Woodchipping Service

Plus there are the many postal, business, travel and insurance services on offer from the Post Office, including:
Car tax and licences
Pensions and benefits
Letters and parcels – special delivery, mail direction
Travel – insurance, bureau de change with 0% commission free on foreign currency
Passport check and send
Business – Parcelforce worldwide, special delivery 9am
Banking services – moneygram and gift vouchers

Cllr Heather Timms, Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, said: “We are bringing a range of services, including county and district council services, closer to people in Warwick. It’s a fantastic facility for local residents.”

Link to WCC