Council to debate community library under threat

Supporters of the library say it has become an important community hub

A petition to save a 73-year-old library under threat of closure and extend its opening hours will be debated by councillors.

Woodston Library in Peterborough is one of several community buildings the city council has considered selling to plug a black hole in its finances.

Some 764 people signed a petition to keep the facility open and to "develop the library as a real community hub".

Mohammed Jamil, Peterborough City Council's deputy council leader, said it was "looking at all options regarding the library's future use" and welcomed feedback from residents.

He added: "This is part of our ongoing assets review and we will work to make a final decision in due course."

Woodston Library was first opened in 1951

Woodston Library is one of 17 community buildings named in a report as "under consideration" for sale by the city council.

They also include Eye Youth Centre and Library, Dogsthorpe Community Centre, Stanground Library and the city's regional pool, which has been closed since reinforced aerated concrete (Raac) was discovered there last year.

The council has already completed land sales worth nearly £6.8m, mostly from its farm estate, with a further £7.94m of land and buildings currently under offer.

The petition asked to "keep Woodston Library open, extend the current opening hours and enable further use by working with the local community to develop the library as a real community hub".

It was put forward by Andy Coles, a former councillor for the area, and Jennie Storey, a long-standing Woodston resident, who both plan to address councillors ahead of the debate.

The library is currently staffed three days a week but campaigners hope to extend its hours

"We're encouraging local residents, local businesses, everybody in the community including children, to attend that meeting," said Ms Storey.

"We have hope that we will be heard and I do believe we will be."

Ms Storey said the library had "massive issues" including to do with opening hours, as it is staffed on three days of the week.

"Our argument all along is that it's been neglected, it's not been promoted, and if something isn't accessible it's not usable."

Mr Coles said the library had been left to "wither on the vine" due to its restricted opening hours, but that several volunteers had agreed to help staff it.

"We want to prove that the library is a valuable resource that the community want to keep open," he said.

"We're hoping they'll say they recognise the value of it, with voluntary assistance, things can continue."