Ellesmere library 'needs to thrive' amid changes

Residents and councillors in Ellesmere have raised concerns about what will happen to the town's library after it came under threat from Shropshire Council cuts.

The council is now consulting people in the town over three options for the library to reduce costs.

The first would see the existing library and customer service point in Fullwood House relocate to the Meres Day Centre in Trimpley Road. It is proposed that the day-to-day running of the services, alongside the management of existing day services for older people and people with learning difficulties, will transfer to a new community organisation.

The second option would see the library continue to be run by Shropshire Council's library service, but with opening hours cut from the current 20.5 hours per week to 10 hours.

In a third option, the council is also encouraging people to come up with other viable ideas for it to consider.

An event was at the library yesterday gave people the chance to find out more about the options. A lot of people in Ellesmere would like to see the library stay where it is and for its opening hours to remain.

John Shone, chairman of the newly-formed Friends of Ellesmere Library Group, said: "We have had a lot of interest and A lot of people have been coming in. We need to make sure we have a strong library service, not just for adults but for children as well. If it moves to the Meres Day Centre then we need to make the best of a bad job. I'd prefer that than see the opening hours reduce."

Councillor Ian Ward, mayor of Ellesmere, said: "We are still looking at all the options. The key thing is that we have a strong and thriving library in Ellesmere."

Neil Willcox, locality commissioning manager for Shropshire Council, said it wasn't about closing libraries across the county, it was about looking at other ways to deliver library services.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that Gobowen Library could get a new lease of life as a community hub.

Shropshire Councillors David Lloyd and Rob Macey say they have had detailed talks with a number of organisations.

Councillor Lloyd said: "I am hopeful that, so long as there is a financial contribution from some of these organisations, the library will become a centre for the community.

"We shall be speaking tonight to the parish council which has agreed in principle to supporting the library project."

One opportunity for grants could be the Three Parishes Big Lottery fund. The fund has £1 million of lottery money to spend on projects to benefit the people of St Martins, Gobowen and Weston Rhyn.

"The Big Lottery is one avenue that we are exploring," Councillor Lloyd added.