North East Lincolnshire Council wishes to thank everyone who took part in Phase Two of the recent Library and Archives Public Consultation with a wealth of views and feedback collated across more than 1,400 respondents to the survey. The feedback will be very valuable in taking the library and archives service forward into the future.
Results from this second phase of the review process and proposals for the future of the service are due to enter the democratic process in October. Councillors will be asked to consider recommendations on the future of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Waltham Libraries, based on the public responses obtained during this second phase of public consultation that are in line with recent recommendations from Full Council.
The Phase Two consultation findings show that the public broadly supports the following recommendations:
- Cleethorpes Library remains open and initiatives to better utilise the available space and facilities be pursued.
- Waltham Library remains open and initiatives to better utilise the available space and facilities be pursued.
- In principle, the current Grimsby Central Library be reopened, subject to confirmation of the options and costs for refurbishment. Such options to be subject to full and transparent engagement.
Councillors will also be asked to consider recommendations to establish options and costs for the repair and refurbishment of Grimsby Central Library, refine the library service needs assessment, and move forward to develop a library service strategy.
The report, including the next steps, will go before the Council’s Economy, Culture and Tourism Scrutiny Panel on Thursday October 2, followed by the Cabinet on Wednesday October 8. You can read the full report here: 8.-Library-and-Archives-Review-Phase-2.pdf
Grimsby Central Library building remains closed at this time following water ingress earlier in the year that created risk of asbestos disturbance. A structural survey on the condition of the building is complete and further surveys are underway to determine the works required.
In the meantime, the Council has identified a unit within Freshney Place, Grimsby, which will serve as a temporary pop-up library. This will be on Baxtergate, next to the Community Diagnostic Centre, opposite Costa Coffee, and is due to open shortly.
Cllr Hayden Dawkins, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy, said: “We are working hard to ensure that the temporary library can be open as soon as is practically possible so that the service is available for local people to use. “
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