Cleethorpes Library to stay put
It's in response to a 4,800-strong petition.
Cleethorpes Library is set to stay put and not be moved into the resort’s leisure centre. In response to a 4,800-strong petition presented to North East Lincolnshire Council, a Conservative resolution was passed by councillors to rule out changes to library provision in Cleethorpes and Waltham.
It also pledges Grimsby Central Library to reopen, subject to a transparent consultation on refurbishment option costs. A Labour amendment was also passed unanimously to create a councillors’ select committee to explore the future of the library service in the borough.
The council has held two consultations on the future of its library and archive service, the second ending on July 9. The public were asked for views on relocating Cleethorpes Library to Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, making Waltham Library a community, volunteer-run library, and permanently relocating Grimsby Central Library to an unspecified other town centre location.
Grimsby Central Library has been closed since March 28 following a water leak and linked asbestos disturbance concerns. A temporary pop-up library will open in Freshney Place.
There has been strong opposition to the suggested library relocations and change to the running of Waltham Library. Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society were the main organisers of the 4,800-strong petition, and members organised a ‘Save our Libraries’ protest beforehand.
Cllr Hayden Dawkins (Conservative – Humberston and New Waltham), portfolio holder for culture, heritage and the visitor economy, said: “I am committed to North East Lincolnshire having library services. But I want to enhance them, I don’t want them to drop off any further.”
He proposed the core resolution in response to the petition. It states the recommended outcomes are “subject to an urgent and comprehensive analysis” of results of the second stage consultation, and recommends:
“Cleethorpes Library remains open and initiatives to better utilise the available space and facilities are pursued;
Waltham Library remains open and initiatives to better utilise the available space and facilities are pursued;
In principle, the current Grimsby Central Library is reopened subject to confirmation of the options and costs for refurbishment, on which there will be full and transparent engagement.”
It was clarified during the debate this amounted to Waltham Library not becoming voluntary run, and Cleethorpes Library to stay where it is. “They will remain exactly as they are now, there’s no plans to do anything else now,” stated Cllr Dawkins.
Council leader Cllr Philip Jackson said: “Roughly three times as many people signed the petition as actually took part in the public consultation. Therefore, we are listening to what the people of North East Lincolnshire are saying via the petition.”
Cllr Paul Henderson (Independents for North East Lincolnshire Group – Yarborough) proposed a cross-party cabinet committee. This would review feedback from the second stage library and archive review consultation and potentially other elements, including development of business cases for the library buildings as libraries. This failed, but Cllr Karl Wilson (Labour and Co-op – West Marsh) proposed something very similar.
He felt a select committee was better as “it gives a more substantial transparency”, as a form of meeting the public can attend. “Some of those 5,000 people might get a voice at the select committee, if they’ve got expertise, so I fully support this approach,” said Cllr Steve Beasant (Liberal Democrat – East Marsh), referencing the petition.
Deputy council leader Cllr Stan Shreeve (Conservative – Humberston and New Waltham) said he would support it in order to get the main resolution passed. “Although, frankly, I’m not entirely sure what it will achieve.”