Groups sought to run Ellesmere community hub for £2 million

Ellesmere Library will be relocated from Fullwood House to Meres Day Centre by July at the earliest as a result of cost-saving changes to the county library service.

The plans were confirmed just before Christmas after six weeks of public consultation. Now Shropshire Council is in the process of finding a social care organisation to run the library and the day centre as part of a new community hub. The estimated contract value for the day centre is about £2.29 million and is £159,600 for the library services over nine years

Nigel Denton, Shropshire Council's commissioning development and procurement manager, said: "The estimated values given on the tender are over the potential nine years' contract duration, and are what Shropshire Council would pay for those services, based on current budgets."

John Shone, chairman of the Friends of Ellesmere Library, said: "Officials have told us it will be July at the earliest before the library moves and they have promised to continue consultations with the friends, the town council and other interested parties to ensure everyone has a say in how the new centre will look and operate.

"If a suitable provider fails to come forward, the council will operate the library in the day centre, maintaining existing opening hours, but will then re-advertise the tender.

"Several members of our committee recently attended a workshop with councillors, officials and representatives of other organisations where we were able to ask questions and provide input on various issues, including the lay-out of the centre.

"Our vice-chairman, Paul Goulbourne and committee member Bryn Howells have also visited the day centre to take another look at how best the facility will operate. It is a big and exciting challenge."