Sandwell Council looks to build £20m facility for archive files

A facility could be built behind Smethwick Council House to protect the files

A council is looking to build a £20m facility to house its archive documents.

Sandwell Council wants to protect the files by developing a building behind Smethwick Council House, Birmingham.

Documents that are more than 600 years old are included in the archive and many are at risk of mould and flood damage.

The authority has already spent £120,000 over eight years to tackle issues which could destroy the files.

Currently stored in the cellars of West Bromwich Town Hall and Smethwick Library, the documents contain information about the history of the borough.

Sandwell Council said the "unsuitable environment" for storing its archive was "jeopardising the ability to effectively care for and conserve the collections".

The authority failed to be accredited by the National Archives in 2018 due to the poor state of its files and for not meeting minimum standards.

If the council fails again to be accredited, then Sandwell could lose its local archive service altogether.

The proposals will be discussed at a council cabinet meeting on 7 February.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.