Whitley Bay Coliseum site proposals to be unveiled

10-AUG-10

Issued by: Duncan Bennett

The former site of the Whitley Bay Coliseum building is to be given back to the community as part of a multi-million pound project.

If approved, the proposed development would be delivered in partnership with Newcastle and North Tyneside LIFT Company (NNT LIFTCo), North Tyneside Council, Newcastle and North Tyneside Primary Care Trusts and Newcastle City Council.

The York Road site was formerly occupied by the Coliseum and was recently identified by North Tyneside Council as a potential site for improvements as part of the Whitley Bay Town Centre Regeneration project.

Developers at NNT LIFT Co have worked closely with their Council and PCT partners to ensure the project helps to enhance the surrounding area while improving services to the community. The proposals include:

- A multi-purpose reception area where trained multi-skilled staff will be able to deal with library, customer service and Tourist Information enquiries and transactions
- A large, modern library with a comprehensive range of fiction and non-fiction materials including large print and spoken word collections, a range of specialist reference and information resources, a suite of People's Network computers providing free access to the internet and word processing packages, a large children's and teenage area, audio-visual lending service, informal seating areas and study spaces
- Payment kiosks for the payment of rent and council tax
- Improved access to PCT primary care psychological therapy services
- Tourist Information service as an integral part of the library, including information, hotel booking and souvenirs for sale
- Flexible community activity space

It is also anticipated that there will be a limited presence by local neighbourhood officers from Northumbria Police within the new joint service centre.

North Tyneside elected mayor Linda Arkley said: "I welcome this proposal and believe its crucial to the regeneration of Whitley Bay town centre. It's a development will bring important services right into the heart of the town. This will increase the number of visitors into the town centre as well as enable improved access to services for the public."

Representatives from NNT LIFT Co, a Government-backed local improvement finance trust established to increase the number and quality of modern buildings available in the heart of local communities, will unveil the plans between 10am and 5.30pm on Thursday 19 August 2010 in the pedestrian mall of Park View Shopping Centre in Whitley Bay.

Russell Taylor, Operations Director of NNT LIFT Co said: "We are very excited about delivering this project.

"Not only does it provide quality new accommodation for the local community but it also is a vital regeneration scheme for Whitley Bay in general. We would like to hear what the residents and business people of Whitley Bay think of our proposals, and to ask us any questions they may have."

Similar projects have already been provided at Shiremoor and Dudley through NNT Lift Co.

E N D S 

Notes to editors:

- LIFT stands for Local Improvement Finance Trust and is part of the Government scheme to increase the number and quality of modern buildings available in the heart of local communities for the delivery of health and social care services, including family doctor (GP) surgeries. 

- The local LIFT partnership brings together health and social care service providers, with GPs and other community-based services into new, purpose-designed and built properties. It includes a unique relationship with the private sector in the form of a local LIFT Company (LIFTCo), which has exclusive rights to modernise PCT primary care and community-based premises for the NHS and can also be invited to develop a wide range of premises for local authorities.

- This is the latest project delivered in a 20-year partnership between Newcastle and North Tyneside PCTs, Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council and NNT LIFTCo.