Redditch Borough Council’s customer services and democratic meetings are moving to temporary new venues, as work ramps up to transform Redditch Town Hall into a new community hub.

The borough council side of the building will close to the public at the end of Friday April 5 with construction hoarding set to go up shortly afterwards. The council’s customer services will then open in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre, at 5 George Walk behind Primark, on Monday April 8.

There residents will be able to provide documents and evidence to the council, get advice on accessing local services, and use self-service online and telephone services during the council’s normal opening hours of 9am-5pm on weekdays, except bank holidays.

In order to make the move, the last week of customer service at the current Town Hall will be available via telephone only, using phones provided in reception, from Thursday March 28 until Friday April 5.

The council’s democratic meetings will also move out of the Town Hall, to Oakenshaw Community Centre and Arrow Valley Visitor Centre depending on the size of the meeting. Meeting details including the venue will continue to be published on the meeting agendas at www.redditchbc.gov.uk/meetings.

Redditch Borough Council’s Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Resources, Peter Carpenter, said: “Please bear with us during these temporary arrangements, as we enter a period of unprecedented change to deliver the new community hub.

“During the works council customer service staff will be available in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre, and committee meetings will be held in the community centre at Oakenshaw and the upstairs meeting rooms at Arrow Valley Visitor Centre. We will return to the new hub once work there is complete.”

Half of the shared public building is already complete, with NHS Talking Therapies and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services opening in its West wing last year. That side of the building will work as normal during these works.

Peter added: “These works are on the council side of the building and will not affect access to NHS services on the other side. NHS services are outside the works area.”

The community hub is bringing multiple local services together all under one roof to provide better, more efficient services, save money, and help regenerate the town centre. For more information see www.redditchbc.gov.uk/hub.