Public consultation open to transform derelict Norwich site
Published:
01:38 PM January 20, 2022
People are encouraged to weigh in on what they want a disused pub-turned-restaurant in a city suburb to be transformed into.
Residents of Sprowston and surrounding areas flocked to the Tills Road building for the consultation on Tuesday and Wednesday this week to pitch ideas on how to regenerate the space.
Open consultation for the public to have a say in the Viking Center at Sprowston. Photos: Brittany Woodman
– Credit: Brittany Woodman/ Archant
Sprowston Mayor John Ward said: “We don’t have any real facilities in this part of the town of Sprowston so we thought it would be a good location for a community centre.
“We had already done surveys with some of the groups here interested in using the building, so we thought we would have a public consultation in the building itself so people could come down, have a look and see what’s available.”
Sprowston City Council purchased the derelict building last year with the aim of turning it into a community asset for the area.
Open consultation for the public to have a say in the Viking Center at Sprowston. John Ward, mayor of the city. Photos: Brittany Woodman
– Credit: Brittany Woodman/ Archant
“We’re hoping to have a kind of community cafe and rent out the other rooms and also build a room out back that will be available for rent.
“We’ve done that successfully before with the Diamond Centre. It was an old school, but we bought it and turned it into a very successful centre.”
Assessing what most want from a community asset, Mr Ward added: ‘Most of them are very excited about the cafe. There is a group of local walkers desperate to find a cafe community in the area from which they can depart and return to.
Karen Vincent, John Ward and Judy Leggett at the Viking Center consultation in Sprowston
– Credit: Provided by Karen Vincent
Open consultation for the public to have a say in the Viking Center at Sprowston. Photos: Brittany Woodman
“A number of local residents are happy that this building is in use.”
Cllr Karen Vincent, who represents Sprowston West as well as Old Catton on County Council, added: “We’re looking forward to hearing people’s views and suggestions.
“The positive thing I’ve heard is that people want an asset like this in the neighborhood where people can walk and have a community base. So many trails lead to this area so people don’t don’t have to drive.
Open consultation for the public to have a say in the Viking Center at Sprowston. Councilor Martin Callam, addressing community members. Photos: Brittany Woodman
“I think it fills a void that we don’t have at the moment and having an abandoned building put to use is a really positive thing.”