Residents are being consulted on the choice to either move or rebuild a council’s office.

Croxley Green Parish Council is currently based out of a temporary structure erected in 1993 but says this is no longer “fit for purpose” as it had a projected lifespan of 25 years.

It has identified two options which could allow it to “better serve our growing community”.

These are: purchasing the former Red Cross Centre in Barton Way from Three Rivers District Council and building a new office at its current site in Community Way.

The consultation, launched yesterday and set to continue until next Wednesday, simply asks which of the two options they agree with and why.

Complete the consultation here

The parish council itself believes buying the vacant building is the best way forward for the community and lists some reasons why.

It says that the site is a community asset which could be re-opened to the community as a village hall and has the potential for modernisation.

Watford Observer: The British Red Cross centre in Barton Way, Croxley Green.The British Red Cross centre in Barton Way, Croxley Green. (Image: Three Rivers District Council)

Choosing an existing site would have the added benefit of preserving local heritage and the parish council suggests it can be more cost-effective than constructing a new one, while also being a faster and smoother process.

The document also includes information on how the schemes could be funded.

“Croxley Green Parish Council has financial reserves which could be used to fund part of this important project,” it said.

“In addition to these reserve funds, the parish council has the ability to apply for additional funding from the Public Works Loan Board.”

This could allow it to secure loans at a favourable rate.

Whichever option is chosen, a further survey would then follow on the decision to apply for Public Works Loan Board funding.

Last week it was confirmed that the parish council had made an offer for the former Red Cross site, although details of the sum involved have not been revealed.

If the parish council does not take the building on, a plan to demolish the building and construct a three-floor building with nine social affordable homes upstairs while maintaining a “modern” community space on the ground floor is expected to be proposed.