TOWN councillors are ‘disappointed’ with a decision to move the library service in Ulverston to the Coronation Hall.
Members of the cabinet for Westmorland and Furness Council approved the permanent relocation of service at a meeting on September 10.
The cabinet also approved a recommendation which declared the currently closed Ulverston Library building on King’s Road ‘surplus to existing operational needs’ with the future options for the asset to be assessed.
Ulverston Town Council leader councillor Mark Wilson said: “We’re disappointed. We had hoped that we could’ve deferred and then discussed some of the further issues that the cabinet really haven’t taken on board we feel.”
He described the Kings Road library as a ‘perfect venue’ that allowed groups to come together and thrive.
READ MORE: Ulverston town council slams 'breakneck speed' of library plans
Ulverston Town councillor Christine Howard added: “I’m really disappointed that they didn’t defer the decision because there was such a strong response, we had 3,000 names on a petition.
“People in Ulverston don’t want to lose their library do they, a library in the Coro is not a proper library, it’s too small, too noisy, the access is terrible.”
A consultation document prepared for the meeting said the proposed library service in the Coro would have 100 per cent of stock available compared to 46 per cent at the Kings Road library.
Documents also addressed accessibility concerns and said The Coronation Hall has a ‘regularly maintained lift’ to assist with access to the first floor.
The proposed option also includes accessible toilet facilities on the ground and first floor and an accessible balcony for improved visitor experience at shows, the consultation document said.
The cabinet member for sustainable communities and localities councillor Virginia Taylor said the council had taken time to ‘carefully consider’ all the options and described co-locating the library service into the Coro as the only ‘viable’ option.
Cllr Taylor said: “In Ulverston we’ve explored how we can most effectively invest to protect the library service in the town and at the same time secure the future sustainability of a key cultural and community building,
“We’re not closing or cutting library or cultural services like many other councils; we’re looking for a creative solution to not only protect the library service, but to breathe new life into a much-loved community building at the same time.”
Following further representations from the community at the Cabinet meeting, Cllr Taylor proposed an additional recommendation, which was approved, that agreed the council will work alongside Ulverston organisations and the local community as it develops its programme of activities around The Coro as an arts and cultural hub.
The proposed works will lead to the building having an ‘improved commercial offer’ with bar, food and beverage facilities as well as a ‘permanent and enhanced’ library with 100 per cent of active book stock available, a report prepared for the meeting said.
Other benefits outlined by the council include a dedicated children’s library and increased ICT facilities as well as improved community and flexible activity space within the Coro.
The report says: “Having the library within an arts and cultural venue will provide local people, and visitors, with the opportunity to experience multiple activities such as attending a theatre production or library activity in addition to browsing the bookshelves and enjoying refreshments from the café.
“Library customers will have the option to borrow and return their books at the self-check machine outside of normal library open hours, thus providing a much more flexible service offer. The stock will be refreshed, and some collections increased, particularly the popular local collection.”
The library on King’s Road closed in September 2023 after the discovery of electrical faults in the building during routine statutory checks.
READ MORE: Cost of Ulverston Coronation Hall library plans revealed
According to the council report, it would cost £1.1 million to allow the ‘safe occupation’ of the Kings Road library with an additional £750,000 required to achieve a similar ‘look and feel’ to other libraries refurbished by the council.
However, the report adds this figure of £1.85 million carries a ‘significant degree’ of uncertainty.
According to council documents, an independent assessment found the remodelling of The Coronation Hall to create a café, meeting rooms and flexible community use spaces along with an enhanced library service would cost £2.5 million.
The same independent assessment found the cost of refurbishing the King’s Road library to the standard of the Kendal or Barrow libraries would cost £1.9 million. Works would include heating and electrical works, roofing repair, fabric works and refurbishment.
The refurbishment of King’s Road to house a stand-alone library service and to re-model The Coro to create the community café and better community spaces but without the library service would cost £4.2 million, said the council.
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