Campaigners in Rutland say they will try to takeover Ryhall Library if needed

The Ryhall library action group say they are considering taking over the library.

It's as a public consultation on how to best deliver library services in Ryhall starts this week.

The future of Ryhall’s library service will be consulted on but it is still unclear whether the village will keep its current building.

There has been much concern in the Rutland village in recent weeks after it came to light that Rutland County Council can no longer afford suggested repairs to the building on Coppice Road and instead is considering closure.

Ryhall Parish Council and a new campaign group have joined forces and want to explore ways they could take over the building as a community run venture and have been critical of the way the Liberal Democrat authority have been handling things.

We already have 30 volunteers in the library

Charlotte Davis, lead campaigner for the Ryhall Action Group, said:

"If we need to take it over as a community library, we are absolutely prepared to do that because that's what residents want."

"They don't just want someone coming round in a van with books or a shelf of books in a corner of the village hall."

"They want a library service and the dedication that comes with that, and they want that community space."

"It's not impossible we already have 30 volunteers in the library."

"They are happy to take on the volunteer side of things of running the library."

"I think there's a huge amount of potential."

We just need the building and the books

"For example, at Deepings Library, they run a lot of children's groups. These are often run by part-time or retired teachers."

"We absolutely have that in this village; we absolutely have the people power."

"We just need the building and the books."

But now the authority has said a consultation will begin next week to explore ‘alternative options for delivering library services in Ryhall.’

Cabinet member for transport, environment, and communities at Rutland County Council, Christine Wise, said in a statement issued today:

“We understand how important Ryhall Library is to the local community and we want to assure residents that we remain committed to providing a library service for both current and future users. We are eager to hear the views of Ryhall residents on how we can best achieve this.”

The consultation will run until Thursday, February 27

The library was supposed to have been upgraded along with three other Rutland libraries, as part of a scheme the council said would cost as much as £950,000.

Some of this funding had come from the Arts Council, with hundreds of thousands allocated from the council’s capital budget and some levelling up funding.

However while the other three library upgrades will go ahead, with a new youth club facility created at the largest library in Oakham, it is looking likely the Ryhall improvements will be canned.

The authority had set aside £70,000 to do the works but says quotes have come in at £250,000.

The library is opened by the authority three sessions each week and at other times throughout the week it becomes a warm space run by volunteers.

The consultation will run until Thursday, February 27.

That is the date the full council is due to approve the budget for 2025 and could include a decision to declare the current building surplus to requirements.

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