THE future of Warrington’s library service will not be settled until at least November, if a report to be considered by the borough council’s executive board next week is accepted.
Proposals to be put to the board on February 13 differ from those presented for public consultation by library operator LiveWire, so no decisions can be made until a full analysis of the impact and options available are concluded to assess their feasibility.
So the board will be recommended to set up a working group to oversee the next phase of libraries modernisation.
The working group will comprise representatives of the borough council, LiveWire and independent advisers. It will have responsibility for developing a new strategy to deliver a modernised library service, drawing on the feedback to the consultation already carried out.
Executive board members will be recommended to receive a report from the working group in November.
More than 2,400 responses were received to the consultation carried out by LiveWire during September and October. A petition organised by the Save Warrington Libraries group was signed by more than 10,700 people. Another petition at Culcheth was signed by 890 people and another in support of Lymm Library attracted 4,248 signatures.
The proposals put forward as part of the consultation were not supported by the majority of residents although there was a recognition that resources were stretched and services had to be fit for the future. A number of suggestions and alternatives were put forward.
As a result, LiveWire recommended further work to be done to look at a number of options for various library sites.
These were: Orford Park, Woolston, Great Sankey, Bewsey and Dallam – no change; Warrington Central Library – no change; Westbrook – continue discussions with a view to relocating the library into a new unit; Birchwood – continue talks with a view to relocating the library into Birchwood Tennis and Leisure Centre; Culcheth – continue talks regarding re-location or a community asset transfer; Burtonwood – continue to develop a mixed economy within the site through an identified commercial partner; Lymm – continue talks to develop a mixed economy within the site in partnership with local organisations and the parish council; Stockton Heath – continue talks with parish council and explore the potential for partner organisations to co-locate; Padgate – to continue talks with the parish council and potential partner organisations regarding a possible re-location; Penketh – maintain the current library offer until the redesign of the “hub” area in which it is sited has been redeveloped by the council; Broomfields – a strategic plan for the development of a neighbourhood hub to be produced by LiveWire, WBC and other health providers by March next year;.
In addition there are proposals for an extended outreach and engagement offer with the aim of groups not taking up or having access to library services such as older people, children and young people.
It is also proposed to introduce a 12-month pilot scheme using book lockers in Fairfield and Howley and Westy.
