Redditch Library will be relocated to join Community Hub

Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet has given the go-ahead to plans to relocate Redditch Library from its current site to the Town Hall which is set to be transformed into a Community Hub.

Back in October 2022, the county council's 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 was 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.

During a meeting that was held today (Thursday, July 20), Cllr Marcus Hart, cabinet member for communities said ‘no one can say they have been ignored’ as it has been an ‘extensive journey’ over the past two years.

He said the county council ‘cannot be accused of rushing and making a hasty decision’.

“I make no apology for the time it has taken us to get here, we have now reached a decision where we can recommend,” Cllr Hart added.

“It was always our intention that any new provision would be good if not better than our current provision.

“I have a real duty to preserve the service and the taxpayer’s money of Worcestershire residents.”

Redditch Library is set to move into the Town Hall. (Image: Redditch Borough Council.)

He then spoke about The Library Campaign’s demolition concerns.

He said: “The Library Campaign expressed concern about demolition but that only tells part of the story.

“In terms of a hasty decision, I say I’m sure the leader of Redditch Borough Council we have been anything but hasty, we have taken our time, we have listened and there has been a full statutory consultation.

“No one can say they have been ignored.”

It is planned that the new library will be reconfigured in the Town Hall by December 2024 and according to Cllr Hart, disruption will be kept to a minimum.

Worcestershire county councillor for Redditch South Mike Rouse, who is also cabinet member for highways said: “I don’t accept the notion that people didn’t know it was happening, the issue has been brought up again and again.

“I welcome the views and note the concerns raised - consultations are not referendums.

“If this library was going to be smaller, I wouldn’t be voting for it, if the service was going to be degraded, I wouldn't be voting against it

“Relocating libraries is nothing new, so once this decision is made we will see the progress of a six year cycle and crack on with the unlocking of Redditch town centre.”

The 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.