Sir Edward Garnier opened Harborough District Council’s Symington Building last week following a major redevelopment of the Council offices. The work, started at the beginning of last year, was completed this January and last week’s event marked the official opening of the restored building. The Symington Building, a former Victorian corset factory owned by the Symington family, now houses the District Council and County Council’s adult learning services, Jobcentre Plus, the Register for Births, Marriages and Deaths and Market Harborough Library and Museum.
Sir Edward said: “It is important to recognise and celebrate the past, but also to look forward to the future. This redeveloped building provides an excellent community hub, joining together District and County Council services, other public sector organisations, local businesses and the Harborough Museum and Library. I am proud to be associated with this district and this building, and I congratulate those from all the organisations involved who have worked so hard to make this redevelopment happen on time and on budget. I understand that the library and museum will be open to the public from Tuesday 8 April.”
-The attached photograph, courtesy of Harborough District Council, shows(l-r) - Andrew Robathan MP for South Leicestershire; Sir Edward Garnier (cutting the ribbon); builders Willmott Dixon’s Managing Director, Peter Owen; HDC Chairman Councillor Geraldine Robinson; Deputy Leader of Leicestershire County Council, Byron Rhodes; HDC Chief Executive Anna Graves; County Councillor Richard Blunt; Leicestershire County Council Chairman Rosita Page; and Leader of HDC, Councillor Blake Pain.