Project begins to transform Brackey's old fire station

The town council bought the building on the High Street from Northamptonshire County Council and also took out a 99-year lease. After running a public consultation with residents the response was to turn the empty site into an area for the community and work started on January 4.

Linda Carter, town council clerk, said: “The building was getting pretty bad and dingy and so we did the public consultation and the outcome was that people wanted a cafe and some new toilets.

“There will be also be a community room for charities to meet there and an area for people to host children’s parties for example. It is vital with anything like this that we work with the community to see what they would like.”

The project will be funded through a £75,000 grant from South Northamptonshire District Council’s New Homes Bonus scheme, and a notice board at the site will keep residents updated on its progress.

It is expected the new building will be completed in May ahead of a grand opening in June.

Mrs Carter added that charities and groups currently based in the town hall will then be relocated temporarily to the site while renovation work on the 17th Century building starts later this year.