Work on Ottery's Convent underway
WORK to re-home Ottery s police force and town council is underway and the town can expect to reap its benefits early next year.
WORK to re-home Ottery's police force and town council is underway and the town can expect to reap its benefits early next year.
After 11 months of bidding and negotiations, the town council got its hands on the Convent building in Broad Street in November. Councillors hope they will be re-homed in early 2009, with the neighbourhood policing team set to follow by mid-summer.
The new community facility will boast a bigger council chamber and a large separate meeting room which will be available for hire. Seven self-contained upstairs offices will be available to rent, with the council hopeful it can attract businesses who want to reduce costs and re-locate.
Councillors have been getting hands-on to get the building ready.
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Deputy Mayor Ian Holmes said: "It's been a struggle getting this building for the town and now we want to get moving and get on. We (town council) hope to be in by early new year and have everything completed and up and running by mid-summer."
Mayor Glyn Dobson added: "The new chamber will be bigger and more accessible to the public, a big difference is that there will be a disabled entrance, meaning everyone can come to council meetings."
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The council will lease one third of the building to the police, giving them a "more visible presence" by having a "shop front", meaning members of the public will be able to talk to someone if needed.
