Public urged to come up with Kirkbymoorside library ideas (From Gazette & Herald)

Public urged to come up with Kirkbymoorside library ideas

3:51pm Wednesday 23rd June 2010 in News By David Jeffels

WE WANT your ideas! This was the message to Kirkbymoorside residents who packed Monday night’s town council meeting, objecting to plans by the authority to convert the former county council library in Church Street into a new home for the town council.

The meeting was told that estimates ranging from £155,798 to £182,362 had been received for the scheme to convert the library building into an office and meeting chamber, following the opening of the all-purpose community centre and library at Church House.

Several residents said they were concerned about the scheme in the present economic climate. David Turlington, who led the opposition, labelled it “unnecessary expenditure” because the council could use the Memorial Hall or the Dugout.

His suggestion that the town council should reach an agreement with Ryedale District Council to use the old community office in The Shambles, through a lease or sale, was applauded.

The mayor, Coun Joe Coughlan, said the town council had received just over £38,000 from North Yorkshire County Council as a dilapidation payment on the old library – about £18,000 more than anticipated.

He explained that the town council’s present small office in The Shambles did not meet health and safety regulations and said there was the potential for the library to earn an income for the council.

Coun Gaynor de Barr said the present office was too small to accommodate two people and lacked basic facilities.

Coun Coughlan said there had previously been no reaction from residents when ideas for the library were sought.

Coun Munro Donald questioned what the cost would be to Kirkbymoorside taxpayers and what options there were for the building if the scheme didn’t go ahead.

“We cannot let the old library become derelict. It is an important building and part of our history.”

Resident Sheila Ridley, a former councillor, said: “We should go back to the public – give them another chance to put forward their ideas.”

The building was bequeathed to the town and the church many years ago and had subsequently been taken over by the then Kirkbymoorside Parish Council.

The council decided to seek views on the library’s future, and a special council meeting is to be called.