Work starts to protect the Old School House in Gower Street
Telford & Wrekin Council has started the first phase of work to protect and repair the Old School House which was the former youth centre in Gower Street, St George’s.
Scaffolding has gone up around the historic building as work gets under way to repair the roof before the worst of the winter weather.
The works follow a series of community engagement activities and a public open day carried out by the Gower Heritage and Enterprise group last month and takes place as the group considers the options for the future use of the building.
The group is busy preparing a business plan which will commit the remainder of the Council funding that has been allocated and also potentially attract further grant cash.
The current work should last around three weeks and will focus on parts of the roof that are in the worst condition.
The Gower Heritage and Enterprise group is concentrating on developing further funding opportunities to see the building refurbished to a high standard – internal refurbishment will start as soon as that funding is in place, which is expected by mid-2016. In the meantime the group is hoping to improve the external area and grounds of the building.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s deputy leader and ward member for St George’s, said: “It is great to see work finally starting on the building and we are very pleased to be working closely with the Gower Heritage Group.
“This initial work will protect the building from expected bad weather during the course of the winter ahead of a full restoration and refurbishment.
“I am looking forward to seeing the Gower Heritage Group’s plans for the building’s future community and business use – it has the potential to once again be a fantastic facility for St George’s.”
