Plans to relocate the library service in Ulverston and to declare the existing library building ‘surplus to existing operational need’ are set to be approved by the council.
Members of the cabinet for Westmorland and Furness Council are recommended to approve the permanent relocation of Ulverston Library service into the Coronation Hall when they meet on September 10.
If this is agreed, councillors will decide whether the Ulverston Library building on Kings Road should be declared ‘surplus to existing operational needs’ with the future options for the asset assessed in accordance with the council’s disposal policy.
Councillors will also consider the outline business case for the redevelopment of the Coro to improve ‘the arts, culture and entertainment offer’ in the area.
According to council documents, the proposed works to the Coro will cost £2.53 million and 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.
Other benefits stated 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.”
However, concerns had previously been raised by Ulverston Town Council regarding the proposal to re-locate the library with mayor councillor Graham Scrogham labelling the proposal ‘massively disappointing’.
Cllr Scrogham previously said: “We feel we’re being railroaded down a cost saving exercise that’s been thinly disguised as that by Westmorland and Furness Council.”
A survey conducted by the town council from July 5 to August 22 found 96.7 per cent of the 1,429 respondents wanted the Kings Road Library to reopen.
However, a report prepared for the meeting by Westmorland and Furness Council says the town council’s survey was launched before the council’s proposals were made public.
The report added the town council’s consultation did not consider alternative options or the impact of the single proposal on the future operation of The Coro.
A separate consultation on the council’s preferred option to re-locate the library service was held in which 74.85 per cent of respondents said they would visit the library and Coro the same or more under the proposed option.
The library on King’s Road closed in September 2023 after the discovery of electrical faults in the building during routine statutory checks.
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.
Following the council taking over the management of the Coro in January, the temporary library has been located in the Supper Room at the Coro and is open in line with the King’s Road opening hours.
Councillor Peter Thornton, cabinet member for highways and assets at Westmorland and Furness Council, previously said: “The proposed investment would include an expanded library that we believe offers opportunities to grow and develop the service, by increasingly making best use of the rest of The Coro for events and activities linked to the library, ensuring The Coro is in use by more people, for more of the time, and putting it even more firmly at the heart of the community.”
“We have ruled out a simple fix to the immediate electrical issues as this would only ever be a temporary solution at best.
“The building requires a full re-wire to prevent a constant cycle of closures as other electrical faults become more serious, causing more disruption to library service users – and we also know that the heating system needs replacing and there are other issues with the fabric of the building that need addressing to enable it to sustain a fit-for-purpose library service going forward.
“That is why, before spending the estimated £1.9 million of taxpayers’ money required for such extensive works at King’s Road, we wanted to look carefully at all our options.
“We make no apologies for thoroughly working through those options – the amounts of taxpayer money we are talking about are significant and we need to make sure that investment works in the best interests of our communities and protects our key services and makes best use of our assets.”
Members of the cabinet will discuss the proposed options for Ulverston Library on September 10 at Dalton Community Centre.
