New chapter as Trowbridge Library opens

3:25pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By Will Frampton

Wiltshire Council leader opens the new facility with the help of children from Newtown Primary School Wiltshire Council leader opens the new facility with the help of children from Newtown Primary School

The new Trowbridge library and café were officially opened in County Hall today, promising improved services and better access to local government.

Wiltshire Council’s leader Jane Scott, who cut the ribbon with help from youngsters from Newtown Primary School, said they had turned their vision into reality.

The library is larger than its predecessor across Bythesea Road, and contains 40,000 books, with free WiFi access, self-service technology and a reference section.

The adjacent reception and courtyard café is intended to allow people to meet up with councillors and officers to discuss their issues.

Cllr Scott said: “Staff from every department will be based here at all times so people can come in and make an appointment, or they will come down if available, and talk out in the courtyard.

“Our vision is to make better use of all our public buildings, making them practical, more efficient and welcoming to local people to use, not just to access council services but also to use for community activities and events.”

The £22 million refurbishment has thus far seen one wing of County Hall partly demolished and re-built to modern energy efficiency standards.

The council plans to cut its 95 existing buildings to just three main hubs, including County Hall, reducing maintenance and energy costs, and claims the project will help save more than £85 million over the next 25 years.

Cllr Scott confirmed that the council was still looking for developers to take on the former library and offices site on the other side of the road, after a previous bid failed back in 2010.

“It would be good to see something there which will compliment what we have here, and the new cinema site opening as well, perhaps a mix of restaurants, shops and housing,” she said.

“But because of the recession it is difficult for regeneration projects to get started.”

Comments (16)

4:08pm Wed 12 Sep 12

liquidsmoke says...

I took my daughter to the opening and we were both very impressed by the new library. The staff were very welcoming and there are many new books to go with the new building.
I took my daughter to the opening and we were both very impressed by the new library. The staff were very welcoming and there are many new books to go with the new building. liquidsmoke

4:58pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Orangecrush says...

The refurb and rebuild of County Hall including this Library has cost £24M and provides space for up to 1200 Wiltshire council employees. Bourne Hill in Salisbury cost £18M and only houses 500 employees has no cafe or Library. The building in Salisbury costs so much more because it is substantially higher in quality and design and was designed by architects of worldwide renown using the very highest quality materials. Yet again Trowbridge has ended up with the worst deal and a cheap half job refurb. The front of this building looks like cheap shiny lego bricks from some point in the 1980's. When is there going to be parity with the South of Wiltshire.
The refurb and rebuild of County Hall including this Library has cost £24M and provides space for up to 1200 Wiltshire council employees. Bourne Hill in Salisbury cost £18M and only houses 500 employees has no cafe or Library. The building in Salisbury costs so much more because it is substantially higher in quality and design and was designed by architects of worldwide renown using the very highest quality materials. Yet again Trowbridge has ended up with the worst deal and a cheap half job refurb. The front of this building looks like cheap shiny lego bricks from some point in the 1980's. When is there going to be parity with the South of Wiltshire. Orangecrush

8:49pm Wed 12 Sep 12

Mrs Donnyfly says...

Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment?
Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment? Mrs Donnyfly

11:29pm Wed 12 Sep 12

elfwyn says...

Mrs Donnyfly wrote:
Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment?
Umm.... because it's been in a spanking state of the art new building in Chippenham for the past few years?
[quote][p][bold]Mrs Donnyfly[/bold] wrote: Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment?[/p][/quote]Umm.... because it's been in a spanking state of the art new building in Chippenham for the past few years? elfwyn

11:22am Thu 13 Sep 12

Grumpyoldgit99 says...

Orangecrush wrote:
The refurb and rebuild of County Hall including this Library has cost £24M and provides space for up to 1200 Wiltshire council employees. Bourne Hill in Salisbury cost £18M and only houses 500 employees has no cafe or Library. The building in Salisbury costs so much more because it is substantially higher in quality and design and was designed by architects of worldwide renown using the very highest quality materials. Yet again Trowbridge has ended up with the worst deal and a cheap half job refurb. The front of this building looks like cheap shiny lego bricks from some point in the 1980's. When is there going to be parity with the South of Wiltshire.
The first person I have ever come across who thinks it a good idea to divert money from front line services to spend it on council accommodation!
[quote][p][bold]Orangecrush[/bold] wrote: The refurb and rebuild of County Hall including this Library has cost £24M and provides space for up to 1200 Wiltshire council employees. Bourne Hill in Salisbury cost £18M and only houses 500 employees has no cafe or Library. The building in Salisbury costs so much more because it is substantially higher in quality and design and was designed by architects of worldwide renown using the very highest quality materials. Yet again Trowbridge has ended up with the worst deal and a cheap half job refurb. The front of this building looks like cheap shiny lego bricks from some point in the 1980's. When is there going to be parity with the South of Wiltshire.[/p][/quote]The first person I have ever come across who thinks it a good idea to divert money from front line services to spend it on council accommodation! Grumpyoldgit99

3:29pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Papa Moo says...

Hi. Any chance you could direct me to where the picture of my daughter that was on this story earlier went before this giant council worker took center stage?

My co workers saw it and by the time I looked, she had been usurped by that 9 foot lady.
Hi. Any chance you could direct me to where the picture of my daughter that was on this story earlier went before this giant council worker took center stage? My co workers saw it and by the time I looked, she had been usurped by that 9 foot lady. Papa Moo

5:10pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Grumpyoldgit99 says...

I thought it was an ordinary sized woman with some hobbits!
I thought it was an ordinary sized woman with some hobbits! Grumpyoldgit99

5:20pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Grumpyoldgit99 says...

On a more serious note, I visited the new library today and was very impressed. The place is light, spacious, has plenty of books, many of which looked new, lots of computer terminals, talking books, seating areas etc. It must be several times the size of the old library. Also, there is a cafe area should you need refreshment.
On a more serious note, I visited the new library today and was very impressed. The place is light, spacious, has plenty of books, many of which looked new, lots of computer terminals, talking books, seating areas etc. It must be several times the size of the old library. Also, there is a cafe area should you need refreshment. Grumpyoldgit99

7:37pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Mrs Donnyfly says...

elfwyn wrote:
Mrs Donnyfly wrote:
Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment?
Umm.... because it's been in a spanking state of the art new building in Chippenham for the past few years?
Umm... I am aware of where the Record Office is elfwyn, which is the reason why I asked why couldn't it have been incorporated into the new County Hall refurbishment. A touch of measured thinking may have led you to the realisation that I was questioning why the Records Office wasn't incorporated into the refurbishment at the planning stage, prior to its relocation to Chippenham
[quote][p][bold]elfwyn[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Mrs Donnyfly[/bold] wrote: Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment?[/p][/quote]Umm.... because it's been in a spanking state of the art new building in Chippenham for the past few years?[/p][/quote]Umm... I am aware of where the Record Office is elfwyn, which is the reason why I asked why couldn't it have been incorporated into the new County Hall refurbishment. A touch of measured thinking may have led you to the realisation that I was questioning why the Records Office wasn't incorporated into the refurbishment at the planning stage, prior to its relocation to Chippenham Mrs Donnyfly

8:55pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Orangecrush says...

Grumpyoldgit99 wrote:
Orangecrush wrote:
The refurb and rebuild of County Hall including this Library has cost £24M and provides space for up to 1200 Wiltshire council employees. Bourne Hill in Salisbury cost £18M and only houses 500 employees has no cafe or Library. The building in Salisbury costs so much more because it is substantially higher in quality and design and was designed by architects of worldwide renown using the very highest quality materials. Yet again Trowbridge has ended up with the worst deal and a cheap half job refurb. The front of this building looks like cheap shiny lego bricks from some point in the 1980's. When is there going to be parity with the South of Wiltshire.
The first person I have ever come across who thinks it a good idea to divert money from front line services to spend it on council accommodation!
Did I say anything about diverting money from front line services? There are many other ways to pay for a high quality building. My point was that there should be fairness between North and South. If the people in South Wiltshire get an outstanding building that has won many awards why does Trowbridge get this shoddy cheap mess?
[quote][p][bold]Grumpyoldgit99[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Orangecrush[/bold] wrote: The refurb and rebuild of County Hall including this Library has cost £24M and provides space for up to 1200 Wiltshire council employees. Bourne Hill in Salisbury cost £18M and only houses 500 employees has no cafe or Library. The building in Salisbury costs so much more because it is substantially higher in quality and design and was designed by architects of worldwide renown using the very highest quality materials. Yet again Trowbridge has ended up with the worst deal and a cheap half job refurb. The front of this building looks like cheap shiny lego bricks from some point in the 1980's. When is there going to be parity with the South of Wiltshire.[/p][/quote]The first person I have ever come across who thinks it a good idea to divert money from front line services to spend it on council accommodation![/p][/quote]Did I say anything about diverting money from front line services? There are many other ways to pay for a high quality building. My point was that there should be fairness between North and South. If the people in South Wiltshire get an outstanding building that has won many awards why does Trowbridge get this shoddy cheap mess? Orangecrush

10:28pm Thu 13 Sep 12

elfwyn says...

Mrs Donnyfly wrote:
elfwyn wrote:
Mrs Donnyfly wrote:
Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment?
Umm.... because it's been in a spanking state of the art new building in Chippenham for the past few years?
Umm... I am aware of where the Record Office is elfwyn, which is the reason why I asked why couldn't it have been incorporated into the new County Hall refurbishment. A touch of measured thinking may have led you to the realisation that I was questioning why the Records Office wasn't incorporated into the refurbishment at the planning stage, prior to its relocation to Chippenham
I did in fact suspect you were making an oblique comment about that. The fact remains that the old Record Office was in a terrible state - I remember strategically placed buckets above the documents to catch drips from the leaking roof, and about eight or nine years ago the Council was told that it had to build a new home for the archives as soon as possible, or have them forcibly relocated to London. So work on the History Centre started in 2005 and it was opened in early in 2007 - long before the refurbishment of County Hall was put forward. However much you might want it to be magically relocated to Trowbridge, it's in Chippenham now for the foreseeable future, and you might as well accept the fact, rather than indulge in pointless wishful thinking.
[quote][p][bold]Mrs Donnyfly[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]elfwyn[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Mrs Donnyfly[/bold] wrote: Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment?[/p][/quote]Umm.... because it's been in a spanking state of the art new building in Chippenham for the past few years?[/p][/quote]Umm... I am aware of where the Record Office is elfwyn, which is the reason why I asked why couldn't it have been incorporated into the new County Hall refurbishment. A touch of measured thinking may have led you to the realisation that I was questioning why the Records Office wasn't incorporated into the refurbishment at the planning stage, prior to its relocation to Chippenham[/p][/quote]I did in fact suspect you were making an oblique comment about that. The fact remains that the old Record Office was in a terrible state - I remember strategically placed buckets above the documents to catch drips from the leaking roof, and about eight or nine years ago the Council was told that it had to build a new home for the archives as soon as possible, or have them forcibly relocated to London. So work on the History Centre started in 2005 and it was opened in early in 2007 - long before the refurbishment of County Hall was put forward. However much you might want it to be magically relocated to Trowbridge, it's in Chippenham now for the foreseeable future, and you might as well accept the fact, rather than indulge in pointless wishful thinking. elfwyn

10:53pm Thu 13 Sep 12

Mrs Donnyfly says...

elfwyn wrote:
Mrs Donnyfly wrote:
elfwyn wrote:
Mrs Donnyfly wrote:
Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment?
Umm.... because it's been in a spanking state of the art new building in Chippenham for the past few years?
Umm... I am aware of where the Record Office is elfwyn, which is the reason why I asked why couldn't it have been incorporated into the new County Hall refurbishment. A touch of measured thinking may have led you to the realisation that I was questioning why the Records Office wasn't incorporated into the refurbishment at the planning stage, prior to its relocation to Chippenham
I did in fact suspect you were making an oblique comment about that. The fact remains that the old Record Office was in a terrible state - I remember strategically placed buckets above the documents to catch drips from the leaking roof, and about eight or nine years ago the Council was told that it had to build a new home for the archives as soon as possible, or have them forcibly relocated to London. So work on the History Centre started in 2005 and it was opened in early in 2007 - long before the refurbishment of County Hall was put forward. However much you might want it to be magically relocated to Trowbridge, it's in Chippenham now for the foreseeable future, and you might as well accept the fact, rather than indulge in pointless wishful thinking.
Umm...just to let you know elfin... I don't believe in magic, I have never not accepted the fact, and I haven't indulged in any wishful thinking, pointless or otherwise.
[quote][p][bold]elfwyn[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Mrs Donnyfly[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]elfwyn[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Mrs Donnyfly[/bold] wrote: Why couldn't the Wiltshire Records Office have been incorporated into this refurbishment?[/p][/quote]Umm.... because it's been in a spanking state of the art new building in Chippenham for the past few years?[/p][/quote]Umm... I am aware of where the Record Office is elfwyn, which is the reason why I asked why couldn't it have been incorporated into the new County Hall refurbishment. A touch of measured thinking may have led you to the realisation that I was questioning why the Records Office wasn't incorporated into the refurbishment at the planning stage, prior to its relocation to Chippenham[/p][/quote]I did in fact suspect you were making an oblique comment about that. The fact remains that the old Record Office was in a terrible state - I remember strategically placed buckets above the documents to catch drips from the leaking roof, and about eight or nine years ago the Council was told that it had to build a new home for the archives as soon as possible, or have them forcibly relocated to London. So work on the History Centre started in 2005 and it was opened in early in 2007 - long before the refurbishment of County Hall was put forward. However much you might want it to be magically relocated to Trowbridge, it's in Chippenham now for the foreseeable future, and you might as well accept the fact, rather than indulge in pointless wishful thinking.[/p][/quote]Umm...just to let you know elfin... I don't believe in magic, I have never not accepted the fact, and I haven't indulged in any wishful thinking, pointless or otherwise. Mrs Donnyfly

2:29am Fri 14 Sep 12

DaveHegarty says...

It's all nice and swanky and all that, does a good job, but when are we going to find the money to fund an Emergency Duty Team that can provide somethings even close to resembling a legitimate service.
It's all nice and swanky and all that, does a good job, but when are we going to find the money to fund an Emergency Duty Team that can provide somethings even close to resembling a legitimate service. DaveHegarty

8:58am Fri 14 Sep 12

Grumpyoldgit99 says...

Orangecrush wrote:
Grumpyoldgit99 wrote:
Orangecrush wrote:
The refurb and rebuild of County Hall including this Library has cost £24M and provides space for up to 1200 Wiltshire council employees. Bourne Hill in Salisbury cost £18M and only houses 500 employees has no cafe or Library. The building in Salisbury costs so much more because it is substantially higher in quality and design and was designed by architects of worldwide renown using the very highest quality materials. Yet again Trowbridge has ended up with the worst deal and a cheap half job refurb. The front of this building looks like cheap shiny lego bricks from some point in the 1980's. When is there going to be parity with the South of Wiltshire.
The first person I have ever come across who thinks it a good idea to divert money from front line services to spend it on council accommodation!
Did I say anything about diverting money from front line services? There are many other ways to pay for a high quality building. My point was that there should be fairness between North and South. If the people in South Wiltshire get an outstanding building that has won many awards why does Trowbridge get this shoddy cheap mess?
£24 million is a new interpretation of the word cheap that I have not come across before.
[quote][p][bold]Orangecrush[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Grumpyoldgit99[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Orangecrush[/bold] wrote: The refurb and rebuild of County Hall including this Library has cost £24M and provides space for up to 1200 Wiltshire council employees. Bourne Hill in Salisbury cost £18M and only houses 500 employees has no cafe or Library. The building in Salisbury costs so much more because it is substantially higher in quality and design and was designed by architects of worldwide renown using the very highest quality materials. Yet again Trowbridge has ended up with the worst deal and a cheap half job refurb. The front of this building looks like cheap shiny lego bricks from some point in the 1980's. When is there going to be parity with the South of Wiltshire.[/p][/quote]The first person I have ever come across who thinks it a good idea to divert money from front line services to spend it on council accommodation![/p][/quote]Did I say anything about diverting money from front line services? There are many other ways to pay for a high quality building. My point was that there should be fairness between North and South. If the people in South Wiltshire get an outstanding building that has won many awards why does Trowbridge get this shoddy cheap mess?[/p][/quote]£24 million is a new interpretation of the word cheap that I have not come across before. Grumpyoldgit99

12:36pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Marrytime says...

"£24 million is a new interpretation of the word cheap that I have not come across before."

Yet another misinterpretation by the grumpy one.
"£24 million is a new interpretation of the word cheap that I have not come across before." Yet another misinterpretation by the grumpy one. Marrytime

9:07pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Polly52 says...

Popped in to visit today, good to see so many people visiting, all looks reasonable but £24m and the Library was very hot there's no cooling in there, did pity the staff!
Popped in to visit today, good to see so many people visiting, all looks reasonable but £24m and the Library was very hot there's no cooling in there, did pity the staff! Polly52

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