Plans to bring together under one roof county and district council services, including the library and tourist information will be on display at a special open day this Thursday (12 June).
The new facility will be based in the town hall, adding to the existing tourist information centre, where a large section of the ground floor will be refurbished accommodate the combined services.
Called 'Alston Local Links', it will be the first of its kind in the county, and will be followed by a rolling programme of openings across Cumbria over the next three years.
Having all the services working together under one roof will bring a great many benefits to both the residents of Alston, and visitors to the area. These include:
- improved access to Cumbria County Council and Eden District Council services
- access to the internet, photocopying, and general council information at one central location
- increased flexibility of opening hours for the tourist information office
- a newly refurbished meeting room in the town hall
- a modern, new library facility with improved provision for children, teenagers and adults
- Citizens' Advice Bureau
- Alston playgroup and pre-school group and
- video conferencing facilities
Moving the library into the town hall will enable it to open for longer; currently, the library is open 12 hours a week, but the new Local Links centre will open for more than 30 hours a week. The new combined service will be operated by Eden District Council with funding from Cumbria County Council.
The refurbishment of the town hall is scheduled to start on 23 June, with the new centre opening in September.
Whilst the work is being carried out:
- the Tourist Information Centre will operate from a mobile unit outside the town hall (it is currently based inside the town hall). Opening times will remain the same - Monday - Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 10am-4pm.
- the library will stay at its current location until it becomes part of the Local Link in the town hall, and its opening hours will remain the same - Monday 3-7pm, Wednesday 10am-12 noon, Friday 10am-12 noon and 3pm-5.30pm, and Saturday 10am-12 noon.
At the town hall on Thursday, from 12 noon to 4.30pm, there will be an opportunity to have a look at the new plans for the building, and meet and talk with people from the county and district councils, and the town hall itself.
Councillor Gary Strong is the county council's Cabinet member for Community Development and Safety. He is also a member of the county council's local committee for Eden. He said:
"I am delighted that Alston is going to be the location of our first Local Links centre, and I am sure it will prove invaluable for both residents and visitors.
"The Local Link programme is a great initiative, and both the county and district councils would like to thank the Parish Council and the Town Hall Trustees for the support and expert knowledge they have brought to this development.
"We would also like to thank the major contribution made by local groups and residents, who have worked together to make this plan a reality for the benefit of the whole community."
Glenys Lumley, Eden District Council's Economic Portfolio Holder, said:
"This is an exciting opportunity to enhance the already top quality services already delivered to visitors and residents by the Tourist Information Centre in Alston.
"Improving access to services for residents in rural and outlying areas is a priority for Eden District Council."
Over the next three years, there are plans to also set up Local Links in Ulverston, Millom, Milnthorpe, Whitehaven, Aspatria, Ambleside, Carlisle, Barrow, Grange over Sands, Cleator Moor, Kendal, Longtown, Kirkby Stephen, Wigton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Appleby, Egremont, Windermere and Wigton.
For further information about Alston Local Links, contact Deborah Turner, Cumbria County Council's customer service manager, on (01228) 227209 or Eden District Council's Customer Service Manager, Linda Methven, on (01768) 212130
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Note
The plans for Alston Local Links will be sent separately
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Alison Lister, Media Officer on 01228 226335