Have your say on plans to move Bromsgrove Library

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RESIDENTS are being urged to have their say on proposals to close the current Bromsgrove Library and relocate it to the former Parkside School building, which would become a 'civic centre', also housing district and county council services.

The public's views are being sought as part of a consultation aims to start on Monday (July 23).

The changes, if implemented, could help Worcestershire County Council's libraries and learning team's drive to save £1.8million - 28 per cent of its budget, as part of the BOLD (Better Outcomes, Lean Delivery) scheme.

The authority claims the move could improve services for library users, with increased opening hours, more space for adult and children's learning, extra meeting space, increased wi-fi and Internet access and a café.

Worcestershire County Council also said the current Bromsgrove Library, Stratford Road, was in need of costly repairs, had no flexible spaces for learning and no potential for sharing spaces with other services - the way the libraries and learning team feels is best to achieve the needed savings.

The 12-week consultation runs until October 12 and the questionnaire will be available from Monday at Bromsgrove Library, the hub at the Dolphin Centre and The Standard's office, 44 High Street.

It is also available online by searching for 'Bromsgrove Library' at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/libraries

A public meeting is also planned for September.

County councillor Anthony Blagg urged residents to make their views known and said: "The Hive in Worcester has been a tremendous success and I would want any new library in Bromsgrove to again become a place where local people feel proud and inspired by and I would urge everyone to make their views known."

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