Reprieve for Telford library as authority steps in
A Telford library which was threatened with closure because of council budget cuts has been saved.
Following discussions with Telford & Wrekin Council, Donnington and Muxton Parish Council has agreed to take on and save the local library.
The details of a deal are still being finalised between both councils but could see the library's opening hours extended by the parish council.
Donnington Library was one of six that the borough council said it could no longer afford to run from April 2017 as part of Telford & Wrekin's budget cuts – the council must make £30 million of cuts over the next two years.
Telford & Wrekin Council has already announced that it has reached in-principle agreements that Dawley, Hadley, and Stirchley libraries will remain open and be run by different organisations.
Newport Library was also saved after senior cabinet members agreed to keep it open.
The borough council will hold a consultation on proposals for new arrangements and opening hours in libraries in June and July.
Councillor Lisa Dugmore, chairman of Donnington and Muxton Parish Council, said that at their April meeting parish councillors voted unanimously to take on the responsibility of Donnington Library, thus saving it from closure.
She said: "This parish council was determined to maintain these facilities within the heart of our community, but we had to ensure that they would be sustainable. We believe we have found a solution that does both.
"Our decision means that the library can be open for longer, and we would be able to offer more training and community services from one central location."
The parish council hopes that refurbishment work on the building can begin following the public consultation and has a number of plans for the building once it is ready.
Councillor Liz Clare, Telford & Wrekin Council's cabinet member for libraries, added: "We have been working hard to find a way forward that helps us meet our savings targets while protecting key frontline services like libraries.
"I am very pleased at the response we've had from the community – we asked them to come forward with ideas for ways that these library services could be maintained in different ways."
