One-stop shops get revamp

5:25pm Thursday 7th August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Residents in Kidlington and Bicester are set to benefit from an £84,000 investment to update Cherwell District Council's one-stop shops.

The shops - based on similar facilities opened last year at the council's headquarters at Bodicote House, Banbury - are due to reopen on September 1.

The money will be spent on replicating key features of the Bodicote House shop, such as copying its colour scheme, making more use of natural light, introducing better signage and furniture, improving accessibility, making it easier to access services online and introducing CCTV cameras for security.

The work at the shop, at Exeter Hall, in Kidlington, is costing £23,000 and £61,000 will be spent on the Market Square shop in Bicester.

Kidlington Parish Council chairman Chris Pack said: "It's fantastic news. It means better information and advice for our residents.

"People like to be able to get forms straight away - they don't want to send away for them. The shops help reduce a lot of frustration."

Bicester town councillor Debbie Pickford added: "People will get a much better standard of service."

Nicholas Turner, the council's executive member for customer service, said: "Changing the layout of these offices will allow us to bring in new technology, to give our staff and customers access to a much wider range of service information.

"It will also allow us to tailor our services more closely to the needs of the local population."

The new facilities will be open five days a week and accessible to disabled people and parents with pushchairs.

It is also planned to run surgeries at the centres, where residents would be able to speak to experts on subjects such as health, education, managing debt and planning matters.