ALCESTER’s Globe House on Priority Road will remain closed until January whilst alterations to create a cultural hub are carried out.

The hub will incorporate many of the town's assets including the Roman Alcester Museum, a range of voluntary organisations, council services, police reporting services and the town's library.

The decision to move the present library into the hub, which is on the same street, was made at a Warwickshire County Council meeting held on Tuesday, May 19.

The old library building is to be sold and the proceeds used to generate funds to set up at Globe House.

Warwickshire County Councillor and Alcester Town Councillor Mike Gittus started the strategy to create the hub in 2011 when Stratford District Council removed from the building as part of a savings plan.

Recently, Warwickshire County Council agreed to enter a 99-year lease for the building securing its future.

Councillor Gittus said: “As soon as it became clear that they did not need to dispose of the building (Globe House) as part of this change in service, the town clerk Chris Wright, and myself set about exploring a scheme to retain the building, its services and most importantly the museum.

"We have worked closely with the Warwickshire County Library Service to bring about a cultural centre of excellence to benefit the community of Alcester and Warwickshire as a whole.

"This dream will become a reality early in January and I look forward to being present at its official opening."

From now, Stratford-on-Avon District Council services will be suspended and Roman Alcester will be closed until early next year whilst the alterations have been carried out.

Alcester Town Council will operate from the Jubilee Centre on Mondays morning and from the library on Thursday mornings.

The Citizens Advice Bureau will be holding appointments at the Jubilee Centre and VASA’s Alcester office will temporarily be moving to Church House in Butter Street whilst refurbishment works take place with wheelchair hire relocated to Stratford-on-Avon.

For more information visit alcester-tc.gov.uk.