Council offices open for business

Many of the council's operations are now housed in one building

Council chiefs in Shrewsbury have celebrated the official opening of their new £10.7m headquarters.

The new home of Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, built at Frankwell Quay, opened its doors on Tuesday.

Patricia Beesley from Reabrook, Shrewsbury, was the council's first customer at the new premises.

She was presented with a bouquet of flowers by benefits manager Penny Matthews, chosen because it was her birthday.

'Traumatic move'

Celia Bahrami, the council's assistant chief executive, said the new headquarters was designed and built to high environmental standards, with solar power electricity generation and rainwater recycling.

The new council chamber features a 'visualiser' which displays maps and plans on a large screen making the details of planning applications easier for people to see.

"It's been a great day and lots of people have come to look at the building and they have all said 'what an improvement'," Ms Bahrami said.

"Instead of operating from four or five different offices across Shrewsbury we are now in one building.

"It means people only have to make one phone call or one trip and everything is sorted out.

"And there is great moral among staff, it has been 250 times more traumatic than moving house but really worthwhile."