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Council issues library reminder
The assistant chief executive of North Yorkshire County Council has called upon community groups to bolster their plans to keep their libraries going before time runs out this autumn.
The council said in June that it would hand over eight libraries to local communities to save them from the axe. But people only have until October 31 to submit their final business plans – or the libraries will close next March.
The eight sites are under threat as the council needs to save £69m. Assistant chief executive Gary Fielding said progress is being made and talks were under way with newly-formed community steering groups – with many opting to improve facilities by transforming them into community hubs.
He said: “The council is looking for local communities too develop local solutions on how they are going to carry on that service. What we are encouraging people to do is think outside the library service and look to see how they can use it as a community base. We are asking them to take on the running of that, or if they want us to carry on running to find funds to make that happen. I welcome the community groups developing the proposals and we have still got time to work through them.”
Hunmanby, near Filey, is a village where planning has started. The Hunmanby Hub Steering Group will hold its first meeting on Tuesday to push forward plans for a multi-facility centre at the library, which will be renamed the Hunmanby Hub and include adult education and health services.
Humanby Parish Council’s chairwoman, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, said: “It’s still at the early stages but we hope to get a combination of services. Campaigning at a high level is still going on but we are saying to people you can assume this won’t be successful in retaining the library as it is now. We have got to plan for a future – a better future.”
The libraries that face closure include Barlby, Bilton and East Ayton as well as Embsay, Gargrave, Great Ayton and Masham.
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