Coventry libraries remain in the dark over relocation
Plans to relocate libraries in Bell Green, Coundon and Holbrooks are set to be rubber-stamped by councillors today
Libraries in Coventry are still in the dark over the council's plans to relocate their services by the end of the year, the libraries are likely to move to new buildings where they will have fewer resources.
Plans to relocate libraries in Bell Green, Coundon and Holbrooks are set to be rubber-stamped by councillors in a meeting taking place today.
It comes despite a plea by hundreds of people not to move the services in petitions earlier this year. Most people surveyed by the council on the plans believed it would have a negative impact, according to new council papers.
Officials also found the changes will overall have a “potentially negative” overall impact. Children, the elderly and disabled people could be hit hardest by libraries moving further away, they wrote in an equality impact assessment.
Officers confirmed libraries will have less books and computers available after the move but they claimed the impact of this will be reduced somewhat.
If Cabinet members back the bid for relocation, plans for the libraries will start their “first phase” in autumn this year, though the second phase is only confirmed for Bell Green library as June 2026.
Mark Graham is the Development Officer at Holbrooks Community care association, he's been telling us how libraries have been in a state of limbo due to little communication from the council itself.
Mark said: "Well personally, and on behalf of the organisation, we feel very disrespected. We feel that there's been no discussions about ways that they can reduce costs which could have enabled the library to stay here, where the community love it.
"The community that have been into the library feel that their voices haven't been listened to after we presented a petition of over 400 signatures trying to stop the relocations, yet the council still want us to move."
Mark continued to share the importance of the services the library provides for multiple people in the community.
Mark said: "Over the last eight years, we've worked really hard to build the library as a space for community support.
It's always been a disguise for people that are coming in for sensitive support around food, through the community fridge, or issues with benefits and debts.
"People in the area know a lot about other people's lives but the library acts as a disguise for people to come in and get the support they need."
Council officers say a decision on the changes will be taken by the Labour-run council’s cabinet and would be rolled out “as early as possible in 2025” though it could end as late as 2027.
A report from Coventry City Council states: “We want to provide positive and joined-up experiences for people accessing services, ensuring needs/ issues can be identified and support provided at the earliest possible stage and in the most effective and efficient way.”
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