Key town buildings on move in major plan

Key buildings in Walsall town centre including the central library are set to be moved to the other end of town as part of the multi-million pound Waterfront development, it emerged today.

Walsall Museum, which is above the library, and the local history centre currently based just outside the central area in Essex Street are also set to relocate as part of the plans drawn up by the authority, while a new leisure centre replacing the gala baths will be built at the site.

The plans have been unveiled as part of a document called the Sustainable Community Strategy, looking at how the four Black Country boroughs of Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton are set to change over the coming years.

It states: “A major new cultural facility will be created at the waterfront with the New Art Gallery at the heart of the development which will include a new leisure facility replacing the gala baths, a central library, local history centre and youth and cultural facilities.

“Over the next 15 years Walsall’s town centre will see a radical change to its landscape with significant development taking place in its business, leisure and residential sectors,” the report added.