Town's library petition reaches House of Commons

Ulverston Library was closed after electrical issues were found

A petition to restore a full library service to a Cumbrian town has been presented to the House of Commons.

Ulverston’s library building on King’s Road has been closed since September after electrical problems were found in the building.

The Conservative MP for Barrow and Furness Simon Fell, who presented the petition on Wednesday, said the library was a "true community hub".

Westmorland and Furness Council said options for the library were being explored, but would require "significant investment".

Temporary pop-up library services have been opened by the council in Ulverston Market Hall and in the Ante Room at the Coronation Hall.

Mr Fell told the House of Commons that the library team had done "a remarkable job" in creating the pop-ups.

“But as the 600-plus signatures on this petition attest, local people want a full service restoring as soon as possible," Mr Fell said.

"Our library enables far more than just the lending of books and is a true community hub."

'Extensive' electrical problems

In November, around 200 people attended a protest organised by Michelle Scrogham, Labour parliamentary candidate for Barrow and Furness, about the closure of the library.

Investigations revealed that the electrical problems in the building on King’s Road were ‘extensive’.

The council is carrying out an appraisal to consider all options for providing a permanent, long-term library service.

Options include the full repair and refurbishment of the existing building, re-locating to alternative premises or co-locating within other facilities in town, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The council cabinet member for sustainable communities and localities, councillor Virginia Taylor (Penrith South, Lib Dems), said the next step would "require significant investment".

"It is therefore right and proper that we weigh up all options carefully, taking into account a number of factors, before committing to that level of investment to make sure that it really delivers for Ulverston, not just for now but into the future," she said.

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