Wisbech is to become a major regional centre for Cambridgeshire County Council with the opening later this month of a £6.5million office complex in Ramnoth Road.
Staff from a number of departments previously located in offices across the town – including the register office - have been moved to Awdry House, a name agreed following a public vote on the Shape Your Place website.
Reverend Wilbert Awdry (1911-1997) was Vicar of Emneth from 1953-1965 and the author of the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' children's books. Council offices in Stermyn Street, Churchill Road and the Queen Mary Centre are among those which have been closed.
The opening marks the end of a long term review of council services in the Fens.
The council will deliver a range of Children's and Young People's Services from the building, which has been designed so that other services and partner organisations can be based there.
The complex also has large conference and meeting facilities.
Cambridgeshire County Council Leader Martin Curtis, said: 'This multi-million investment by us and our partners means that people can gain access to services in one place while reducing the cost to the tax payer as well as providing the best facilities for youngsters to lean new skills ready to get a job.
'Awdry House not only brings a range of services into one place but also provides the opportunity for other organisations to join us. 'It is part of a multi-million pound investment, including the new technology block, designed to help boost the economy in Wisbech. 'This is just one part of the work going on as part of the Wisbech 2020 Vision that will help the communities in the town and surrounding area.'
The development is part of a larger £13 million investment on the College of West Anglia site as part of the Wisbech 2020 Vision to create jobs, improve the economy and raise the quality of life.
Awdry House complements a new £7.2 million Technology Centre being built for the College students and also part funded by the County Council and Fenland District Council.
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