More libraries set to stay open under Telford council cuts
Two more under-threat libraries in Telford look set to remain open, it has been announced.
Stirchley Library will be taken on by Stirchley & Brookside Parish Council at its offices at the Sambrook Centre. Parish councillors are also looking to support the closure-threatened Brookside Central community centre and talks are taking place with local groups.
Meanwhile, proposals have been put forward that could see Madeley Library move to the Anstice Memorial Hall to secure its future.
Stirchley and Madeley were among the six libraries earmarked for closure by Telford & Wrekin Council as part of £30 million budget cuts. Arrangements have since been unveiled to keep five of the libraries – which also include Dawley, Hadley and Newport – open. No plans have yet been announced for Donnington Library.
Stirchley and Brookside Parish Council says it is committed to keeping the library open and intends to support Brookside Big Local Partnership to run Brookside Central.
The two proposals will go to the parish council's next meeting on March 22.
Councillor Arnold England, Stirchley & Brookside Parish Council's policy lead, said: "The library is a great local facility and one that, through strong partnership working over the last four years, has become a thriving community facility since the parish council relocated to save the library service.
"Given the strong record of partnership working between us the Telford & Wrekin Council, we are committed to keep the library running.
"We're still working with the borough council on the precise detail of what a future library service in Stirchley might look like and expect to finalise this soon.
"We are also working with BBLP to look at how together we can ensure that the community centre facility at Brookside can be run from April 2017 when Telford & Wrekin Council will stop running this.
"This is an excellent facility that is very well used by people and there is a very clear commitment from a number of local groups including Stirchley & Brookside Parish Council to continue to run after from April 2017."
