COUNCIL bosses have moved to stress Stourbridge Library and the town hall will remain “open for business” while work to regenerate the Crown Centre takes shape.

Ownership of the centre and the Bell Street car park has now been transferred to developers Tesco who aim to rejuvinate the town with a new £50million state-of-the-art store.

No start date for the multi-million pound scheme has yet been confirmed but work to create a new temporary entrance for the council facilities within the complex will be developed over the next few weeks and contractors Bowmer & Kirkland will aim to have it ready for use by the spring.

Once complete - visitors will be able to gain access to the library, town hall and register and housing office through a new entrance on Market Street.

Councillor Adrian Turner, Dudley’s cabinet member for housing, libraries and adult learning, said: “It’s important to stress that the library which includes the register office, housing office, and access to the town hall, will remain open for business throughout these initial works and during the development. The new entrance will be clearly signposted for visitors.

“We will work with Tesco and their contractors to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum during the development.”

A series of answers to questions about the development can be seen on the council’s website, www.dudley.gov.uk. People can also sign up to a user group to receive the latest updates about the scheme by emailing stourregen@dudley.gov.uk For more information on library services and the town hall visit www.dudley.gov.uk