Call to end scaremongering over future of town centre library - The Redditch Standard

Call to end scaremongering over future of town centre library

Redditch Editorial 23rd Sep, 2021 Updated: 24th Sep, 2021   0

A CALL to end the sniping and scaremongering over the future of Redditch Library has been made by Council Leader Matt Dormer.

It comes after he was quizzed by Labour group leader Councillor Andy Fry (Lodge Park) on the future of the town centre library at Monday night’s full council meeting.

Coun Fry asked Coun Dormer (Con, West) to update members on the proposed demolition of the library and future library provision.

He further asked about proposals for public consultation on the provision of library services in the town centre.




Coun Dormer replied that a group had been established with the county council to look at the future needs of the service and possible site options.

However speaking after Monday’s full council meeting Coun Dormer said it was wrong to keep alarming the public over the future of the library in Redditch.


“The library function in this town is going nowhere,” he said.

“After The Hive in Worcester it’s the most used library in the county so why would we want to downscale it or downgrade it?

“However it does need modernising, the future of libraries is as community hubs and it needs more tech, more computers.

“A decision has not yet been made on its future site but the town hall is the favoured location for me and the county council.”

He added: “On the issue of consultation, the project was chosen after consultation on four separate occasions.

“We are not doing this on whim.”

He also described Woodrow Library as ‘very important’ and said its future was safe too and that there was also the possibility of a third library serving the revamped centres of Matchborough and Winyates.

The borough’s Towns Fund Board was awarded £15.6million by the government to carry through plans to improve the town centre amongst which include proposals to demolish the current library building.

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