PLANS to consult people on moving the library into the Town Hall took a step closer on Tuesday when the borough council’s executive committee voted to endorse the Draft Redditch Town Investment Plan Business Case.
The Town Hall would be repurposed as a community hub, incorporating the library on the ground and first floors with the council chamber and civic suite being moved to the second floor of the building.
The Town Funds Grant, secured by the council, would see the site currently occupied by the library being transformed into a public plaza, events space, bars and restaurants.
The council hopes the revamp will help drive footfall from the Kingfisher while improving connectivity with the town centre.
The proposal to relocate the library will go before Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet on Thursday, October 27, which will decide whether to progress with the next – public consultation – phase.
Redditch Labour leader Coun Joe Baker said he was ‘disappointed’ by the decision and by the lack of debate or discussion at the executive meeting.
“The decision took seven minutes in total with no consideration for the public opinion regarding demolishing the library.
“I believe the town hall does need to be developed into a community hub however, I believe the money spent demolishing the library and developing another building in its place is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”
Coun Baker suggested the council ‘leave the library in its well-established building and invest the cash into upgrading the existing shops and buildings in the town centre’.
Redditch Labour is holding a ‘Stop the Library demolition’ demonstration from 11am to 1pm tomorrow (Saturday) in Mercian Square.
Redditch Borough Council leader Coun Matt Dormer said: “These plans are the future of Redditch that will lead to more investment in our town and delivers in so many respects.
“People are absolutely entitled to campaign to save the library building if that’s what they want and we encourage everyone to have their say but I would advise people to take a look at the plans first and keep an open mind.
“There may have appeared to be a lack of debate at the executive meeting but the debate has been ongoing for a long time and Labour has known this would be happening for years.
“I want the town to be better, I would hate Redditch not to have a library and this secures its future.”
