8,500 visit new Southwater Library in second week
The second week of trading at Telford & Wrekin Council’s flagship Southwater One building has been even more successful than the first.
The new Southwater Library saw 8,500 visits in the second week, bringing the total amount of visitors to nearly 15,000 in the first fortnight.
Visitors to the library have borrowed 7,800 books since Southwater One opened and an unprecedented 450 children have joined the Summer Reading Challenge.
A total of 1,437 customers have also been helped by staff in the relocated First Point customer contact facility during the first two weeks.
Southwater One opened its doors on July 14 and it is the first major part of the £250m regeneration of that part of Telford town centre.
Work is continuing on the rest of the development with both the 11 screen IMAX Cineworld and the 85 bedroom Premier Inn hotel due to open next month, following by a string of market leading restaurants.
The Southwater development has completely transformed Telford town centre and it will soon be followed by the planned £200m regeneration of Telford Shopping Centre.
Telford & Wrekin Council leader Councillor Kuldip Sahota said: “These latest figures demonstrate how Southwater is capturing the imagination of residents and visitors alike.
“The town centre is thriving on the renewed investment and interest in it and we can’t wait for the rest of the first phase of the Southwater development to open.”
The Southwater Library is staffed between 10am and 6pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday until September 30.
A self service facility is available in the library at other times when the Southwater One building is open.
