Cheltenham’s landmarks getting a facelift

Many of Cheltenham’s public buildings are going to get a major revamp during the next few months.

Pittville Pump Room is going to get a green makeover with a solar panel fitted on the roof, angled to the south facing orientation on the car park side.

Cheltenham Library in Clarence Street is going to undergo a major revamp at a cost of £100,000.

Cheltenham General Hospital will get a £16 million extension with state-of-the-art critical care, rehabilitation and stroke facilities. A dozen intensive care and high dependency beds will be provided as well as 24 beds for stroke patients and 40 rehabilitation beds. The project is expected to be completed by March 2009. In addition to that Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal hospitals are set to benefit from £715,000 of improvement works, which should include new flooring and curtains for the wards, and redecorating bathrooms and toilets.

In addition, a new £5 million breast cancer clinic is going to be built from April next year at the site at Thirlestaine Court to be opened in June, 2009. It will replace existing breast cancer services at Cobalt's Linton House and the general hospital.

Cavendish House at the Promenade is another building to undergo a major transformation - third of the space is to be leased out to two new shops: Zara and H&M. Plans are to pedestrianise Regent Street to create another shopping area in Cheltenham town centre.

Cheltenham Art Gallery is one of the buildings which is going to change its face completely. 78 architects have entered a competition to develop the shopfronts to the east of the gallery. A shortlist of four designs have been announced. The four designs that reached this stage promise a completely new look to Clarence Street.
You can view paper versions of the final four – until Friday 21 December at the Art Gallery & Museum, Clarence Street (during regular opening times) and at the Municipal Offices, Cheltenham Borough Council, Promenade, (on Monday / Tuesday / Thursday and Friday from 9am until 5pm and on Wednesdays from 9.30am until 5pm).

There will also be a series of mini-roadshows throughout the town in December, and a travelling exhibition will call at:
3 December to 6 December: Hesters Way Community Resource Centre and Springbank Resource Centre
6 December (6pm to 8pm): Late night opening at the Art Gallery & Museum
7 December (10am to 12.30pm): Regents Arcade
14 December (1pm to 4.30pm): At the Brewery Centre
19 December (4pm to 7.30pm): At the Bacon Theatre, Dean Close School