CALLS for answers over the future of Redditch town centre library services were made at the borough council’s overview and scrutiny meeting last Thursday, December 2.
It follows public concern over proposals to demolish the library with £4.2million of Town Deal money from the Government.
At the meeting, council chief executive Kevin Dicks said his preferred option and that of Council Leader Councillor Matt Dormer was to relocate the library services to the Town Hall, although no decision had yet been taken.
Nearly 1,870 people recently signed a petition headlined ‘Keep our library at the heart of Redditch – with a guaranteed plan and full services’ to Worcestershire County Council, which is responsible for library services.
At the meeting Coun Jenny Wheeler, vice-chair of the committee, asked Coun Dormer: “It has been difficult to understand some of the thinking and processes about the library, and there hasn’t been the transparency we might have expected.
“The public have expressed their concerns and there has been a petition.
“We realise there is going to be a project group who will be looking at this. Will they be making decisions about the library?
“Does the public have the opportunity to feed back in consultation, as this is about the culture of their town?”
Coun Dormer, who is also the county council’s cabinet member for communities, replied: “One of the funding criteria was to provide an assurance from the county council that there will be an acceptable, viable, deliverable plan.
“We can’t go ahead without fulfilling that obligation.”
Speaking after the meeting he said: “I’m fully aware that libraries have to evolve and there will be all kinds of consultations going on as our aim will be to ensure we deliver the same level of service – if not better – than the one we have at present.”
After the meeting, Redditch Labour Party member Joanna Kane said: “There is still no evidence of a fully costed plan setting out how library services in Redditch town centre will remain accessible to all residents and be at least as good as the current service.
The county council has promised that a report setting out plans for the future of the library will be presented to its cabinet early next year.
