Campaigners fight to save library threatened with axe

Proposals are expected to be submitted next month over the The Middle Deepdale scheme, to dramatically increase in size North Yorkshire’s largest housing estate at Eastfield, with more than 1,300 homes being built.

Campaigners say the scheme is part of a planned 8,678 homes to be built around Eastfield over the next 15 years and will effectively turn the area – one of the most deprived in the county – into a satellite town.

Now ahead of a critical North Yorkshire County Council budget meeting in May, fresh appeals have been launched to reclassify its branch library to a main library and spare it the axe.

Coun Brian Simpson, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scarborough and cabinet member for neighbourhood renewal, said: “We urge North Yorkshire County Council to re-think the position taken over Eastfield Library.

“It seems the only consideration taken was its proximity to Scarborough Library. To many who use it in Eastfield this might as well be a million miles away.

“Our elderly and young families cannot afford the round trip by bus.

“Our secondary school and primary schools all utilise the facilities at Eastfield Library.

“In respect of all the planned development for Eastfield and its surrounding area, we feel that for the county council to begin withdrawing services is both wrong and will have a devastating effect on both the existing community and future housing plans.”

Developers behind the Middle Deepdale scheme are finalising details before an outline planning application is submitted to Scarborough Council.

It is hoped that work on the first phase of the long-awaited project, which has been mooted for more than 15 years, will begin in the autumn.

The council has set a target to build 12,000 properties across the borough by 2026 – and the Middle Deepdale project is fundamental to achieving this.

A North Yorkshire County Council spokesman said: “The whole issue of reclassification of the library service is still under consideration.”