Community hopes to save 73-year-old library

Woodston Library was given to the people of Woodston in 1951 by the residents of Fletton Towers

Residents are hoping to save a 73-year-old library at risk of being closed by a city council.

Woodston Library on Orchard Street, Peterborough, was listed among Peterborough City Council’s assets at risk of being cut in order to balance budgets.

Jennie Storey, who has lived in Woodston for the past 27 years, said residents were “appalled” by the idea of losing their library and had been campaigning to turn the site into a community hub.

Peterborough City Council said a decision on the facility would be made in the next few weeks.

Residents have called for more community events to be held at the space

During a review of all of the properties it owns, the council suggested the library was no longer needed and may look to move the service elsewhere.

Friends of Woodston Library said they would campaign to preserve the site and called on the council to provide longer opening hours and to turn the library into a community hub.

They said a team of their volunteers would be happy to staff it, provide planters and promote the space.

'Full potential'

Ms Storey said the group could build up the "starved" library and even host community events so it could reach its full potential.

"There are so many community assets that are going in our area...the population is increasing but we are reducing the assets and community venues that we have," she said.

"People aren't happy, but there's a number of people who didn't even know it was there."

Friends of Woodston Library will hold a meeting at the site on Thursday 5 September, when they launch their campaign.

A spokesperson for the city council said: "The library forms part of our wider locality asset review which is currently ongoing.

"We are hopeful that a decision on the facility will be made in the next few weeks and will make announcements in due course."