Visit to the Swanley Gateway site

(L-R): Sue Meads (KCC); Cllr. Tony Searles, Swanley TC; me; Gavin Ernest  (gdm Architects);  Paul Kemp (Mears)

This week I had a chance to visit the site of Swanley Library, undergoing its tranformation into the Swanley Gateway. I was accompanied by Tony Searles, leader of Swanley Town Council, who has long played a key role in the project; architect Gavin Ernest of gdm Architects; KCC officers and staff from the contractor Mears.

The Gateway site lies just outside my Darent Valley Division (the boundary with the Swanley Division is essentially along the railway line), but the project is of considerable importance to many of my constituents. I also had extensive involvement in earlier plans and discussions about the project in my previous Cabinet role, which included responsibility for property.

Image courtesy of Portsdown

The project involves an extensive refurbishment and demolition of the interior walls. As the plan (pictured) shows, the ground floor will have an extensive open library space and cafe. The Post Office and KCC Social Services will be found to the rear of the ground floor. Job Centre Plus will have desks on the ground floor (JCP's only on the ground presence in Sevenoaks District), while KCC Registrar services, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Swanley Volunteer Centre and others from the voluntary and community sector will also have desks. Perhaps most importantly, West Kent Housing will have a major presence in the Gateway, including offices on the first floor. As before, the building will be used by the Member of Parliament for surgeries.

The Gateway should succeed in its aim of delivering a one stop shop and community hub for Swanley in a new, more comfortable and energy efficient building. Architect, contractors and council staff are very committed to its successful delivery. The next major public stage will be the setting up of a mobile Gateway exhibition for a few days (28-30 March) in the square byAsda to give residents a taste of how the Gateway will operate. It will also give residents a chance to vote for a name for the new Gateway. The building itself is scheduled to open in the summer.