Once the Edinburgh Woollen Mill, a Newport High Street shop’s now transforming into a community council hub.
Plans have been finalised that will see the former clothes shop become the home of Newport and Carisbrooke Community Council, with offices on the first floor.
Nesting birds
So far the work has uncovered one slight hiccup – birds in the roof.
A few slipped slates meant small leaks in the loft, nesting birds and quite a mess.
The roof has been initially repaired and the mess cleaned up with the project still on track to be completed by the start of April.
Heritage centre, meeting and exhibition space
Downstairs there will be a heritage centre, meeting and exhibition space, with three shop-let/rentable units.
They will provide opportunities for businesses to hold a small area on the High Street, for a small rent.
The shop fittings, fixtures and ceilings have been removed and electrical cables have been installed.
Scaffolding has been erected on the High Street, so the shop front and windows can be repainted.
Bought by community council
The community council bought the empty building in September 2021 after looking for a building in the town centre.
Since then it has been used as hub for small business on a handful of occasions
The authority is hoping it will make it more accessible for residents and help the post-Covid recovery of Newport High Street, removing an empty building.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
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