THE final decision on whether Redditch Library should be relocated from its current site is set to be made next week.

Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet will decide whether to give the final go-ahead to proposals to relocate Redditch Library to the Town Hall which will be transformed into a Community Hub.

The proposed relocation is part of the £15.6m plan to regenerate Redditch Town Centre which was secured by Redditch Borough Council as part of its Town Deal with the government.

Back in October 2022, Cabinet agreed that before the relocation was considered, a wide range of requirements would need to be fulfilled.

This was to ensure that the County Council were able to continue to provide a full and efficient library service and not be financially worse off in any way because of the relocation.

The county council then launched a public consultation in November 2022 until February 2023.

A total of 1467 people responded with 72.3 per cent saying they disagreed with the new location for the library being in the Town Hall.

Despite this, it is recommended that cabinet support proposals to relocate the library on the basis that all commercial, operational and collaboration requirements have been met as well as mitigating action has been taken because of consultation feedback.

The proposals will be discussed by the cabinet on July 20.

Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member for communities at Worcestershire County Council said: “I would like to assure all those who have taken the time to share their views about the relocation of the library that we have been in listening mode throughout the consultation period.

“Thanks to the thorough feedback we have received, we have been able to work with partners on the relocation plans to address most of the concerns raised with us.

“These plans include some improvements to the current offer such as a dedicated blue badge space for the proposed new location.

“If the cabinet decide to support the proposal to relocate the library to enable the vital investment into Redditch Town Centre, there will be no imminent changes to the library service offered to customers in Redditch.”