The icing on a great first year
The first birthday of a ‘one stop shop’ in Whitnash has this week been celebrated, with more than 20,000 people passing through the doors in the last 12 months.
Visitors were welcomed in to the first birthday celebration at ‘Warwickshire Direct – Whitnash’ with cake, refreshments and variety of special events.
The ‘one stop shop’, which brings county, district and town council services, plus the Whitnash Safer Neighbourhoods team, together under one roof at Whitnash Library, has trained staff on hand to answer a range of enquiries, from how to apply to go on the electoral register or join the local Credit Union, to how to apply for a bus pass or disabled parking badge.
‘Warwickshire Direct – Whitnash’ features a ‘private room’ where staff can listen to confidential enquiries, a ‘police room’ where people can discuss issues with the Safer Neighbourhoods Team, and a Town Council room.
This is all in addition to the services offered by Whitnash Library, which stocks a wide range of books, CDs and DVDs and has welcomed over 300 new members in the last 12 months.
Surgeries and events are regular features of the ‘Warwickshire Direct – Whitnash’ calendar with the Credit Union holding drop-in sessions offering financial guidance, and help and advice available for older people and their carers each month from the PHILLIS team. Other activities provided by the Safer Neighbourhoods team and library staff - including Story Time and Bounce and Rhyme sessions - have all been successful and well attended.
Cllr Les Caborn, Portfolio Holder for Customer & Business at Warwick District Council said:"‘We are delighted that visitor numbers at Whitnash have risen to 20,000 in the last 12 months. I would like to thank the staff from all of the partner organisations for their hard work and enthusiasm in making this facility a great success, and a real asset for the local community".
Cllr Heather Timms, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services at Warwickshire County Council said: “Many of the enquiries that the Town Clerk received can be resolved at the Warwickshire Direct desk, and local residents are able to access trained staff in their own community instead of travelling to Leamington or Warwick with specific issues.
" ‘Warwickshire Direct – Whitnash’ is one of a number of ‘one stop shops’ that are now open around the county providing joint access to district and county council services, plus other partners, in locations such as Kenilworth, Nuneaton, Southam, Atherstone, Warwick and Bedworth."