Cabinet to consider proposal to relocate Pontesbury Library

Cabinet are to consider a proposal to relocate Pontesbury Library at the next meeting on Wednesday 1 May, 2019.

The library is currently adjacent to Mary Webb School and Pontesbury CE Primary School and is open 15 hours a week.

If approved, the new proposals will see the library co-located with other local services which will strengthen the position of the library within the community, enable closer working with a wider range of local partners and offer scope for a greater variety of events and activities for residents in the community.

The project to provide a community building is being driven by Pontesbury Parish Council in partnership with the Friends of Pontesbury Library and Shropshire Council. The new building will enable improved access for people with disabilities and the layout of the library will be planned to make it easier for all users to access the services provided.

Pontesbury Library would continue to offer the full range of library services at the new location.

Shropshire Council’s library service carried out a public consultation from 9 October to 20 November 2018 so the views of the local community could be used to inform the decision.

77% of respondents to the consultation are in support of the proposed relocation of the library.

Lezley Picton, Shropshire Council Cabinet member responsible for libraries, said:

“If approval is given by Cabinet, the work to transfer the library will begin in earnest.

“Moving the library into a brand new facility, co-located with other services, creating a vibrant community hub is too good an opportunity to miss.”

Councillor Nick Hignett, Shropshire Council member for the Rea Valley division, said:

“This is an exciting time for the library service in The Rea Valley area,and I am hopeful that this will result in an improved facility for the community.”

You can find more information about Shropshire Libraries by clicking here.

To find out more about Cabinet, click here.