Long Knowle Community Hub opened the doors to its first customers this week.

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The hub is one of a number of similar developments across the city and will offer library, community and information services to local residents, all from under one roof.

Extensive renovation work has been carried out by contractors Interclass on the existing library and community centre building at Wood End Road, which has enabled an open plan layout to be created for the new hub.

Repairs have been carried out the flooring, ceiling and roof, a new kitchen has been installed and the building's ageing heating system has also been replaced during the work to create Long Knowle Community Hub - and it was officially opened by Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities on Tuesday (8 April, 2014).

He said: "I was delighted to officially open this new community hub. It is an exciting development for Long Knowle and the surrounding areas which I hope will not only increase the customer base of the library but also enable more people to take advantage of community facilities, too.

"Lots of people have played a key role in developing this hub, and I'd like to thank them all for their help and support. I'd also like to thank people for bearing with us while work has been taking place over the last few months and I hope they will agree that any disruption has been worth it."

Tony Bladon, Chair of Long Knowle Community Association, said: "The building has had a complete refurbishment which has greatly enhanced the library and community centre, with improved facilities.

"A very big thank you should go to the contractors Interclass who have done what we think is a brilliant job. Thank you also to the city council for providing the funds to enable this work to be carried out; it should give this building at least another 20 years of life.

"We look forward to welcoming old and new users along to see what is on offer at Long Knowle Community Hub."

The hub is one of a number of new facilities opening around the city. Pendeford Community Hub welcomed its first customers last week, while an official opening for Wednesfield Community Hub, which opened to the public last month, will be held on Friday (11 April). The Hub at Ashmore Park is due to open next month, while work on Low Hill Community Hub is now underway and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Councillor Mattu added: "We believe that by bringing important services like our libraries and community centres together under one roof, we can make them more easily accessible to our customers, as well as more cost-effective for the council.

"This is especially important because the council is facing an unprecedented financial challenge - developing these community hubs has enabled us to protect our library and community services as much as we possibly can.

"This new Hub is a prime example of how we are doing all we can to protect services by re-providing them in innovative new ways."

  • released: Wednesday 9 April, 2014