Youth centre to move to new site

6:47pm Monday 5th May 2008

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WILTSHIRE County Council is looking at an option of locating youth and social care services on the same site in Chippenham.

The county council is selling the Bridge Centre, which is currently used as a youth centre, and North Wiltshire District Council last week agreed to put up for sale the Bath Street car park.

The sale is expected to generate interest as a possible site for a new supermarket and enable the redevelopment of the gateway to Chippenham.

The sale of the Bridge Centre also provides the county council with the opportunity to look at the way it provides a range of services in the town.

The favoured option being considered by the county council is to move youth facilities at the Bridge Centre to the Middlefield site where a new centre consisting of one or two buildings would be built to provide a wide range of services for both young people and adults with learning disabilities.

The proposals are in the early stages but the county council has pledged that services for both groups of people will continue and users of the service will continue to be consulted and be kept informed about progress of the project.

Similar jointly located services have already been successfully trialled at the Warminster Hub where a new facility has been created for both young people and adults with learning disabilities.

John Thomson, county council cabinet member for community services, said: "This is an exciting opportunity for the people in Chippenham. Selling the Bridge Centre gives us the opportunity to look at innovative ways to provide services in the town.

"This redevelopment will provide a new and improved centre from which services can be provided for both young people and adults with learning disabilities.

"We will continue to consult with and keep everyone who uses the Bridge Centre and the Middlefield Centre informed of what is happening and promise that services will continue to be provided throughout this redevelopment."

Dick Tonge, leader of North Wiltshire District Council, said: "We are really pleased that the joint site is being put on the market.

"We expect that this will lead to a better solution for Chippenham as opposed to piecemeal development. It's a great opportunity to improve and revitalise this part of the town."