By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 5,000 people have now taken part in a consultation on the proposed closure of four Nottingham libraries.
Labour-run Nottingham City Council, which declared itself effectively bankrupt last year, is looking to cut £1.5m from its libraries service over the next two years.
It plans to shut Basford, Bilborough, Radford-Lenton and Aspley libraries, alongside axing jobs and reducing opening hours across other facilities, including the newly-opened Central Library.
A final decision is due early in 2025.
During a Full Council meeting on Monday (November 11) Cllr Sam Lux, Executive Member for Leisure and Culture, said the council was working ‘diligently’ on potential collaborative approaches with charities and community organisations.
She said there had been “a record” 5,378 responses, featuring comments and suggestions, to the 12-week consultation which ended in August.
“Several community and charitable organisations have expressed interest in partnering with the City Council to explore options for library delivery or alternative uses for library buildings,” she said.
“All of this feedback has been invaluable and enables us to better understand the concerns and needs of our community as we explore alternative options to achieve the necessary savings.
“We want to ensure every possible alternative is thoroughly explored before presenting the final recommendations to the council.
“The final report is likely to be presented in the early new year and in the meantime we are committed to reviewing all findings from the consultation, which will be subject to additional scrutiny in January 2025.
“We are also collaborating with charitable partners to assess the realistic options and support they can provide, while evaluating community needs.
“This work will culminate in a final report and council decision in early 2025 with full implementation and any changes in April 1 2025.
“We are fully aware these decisions will shape library provision across the city for the next decade.”
Campaigner Des Conway says the council may be considering reprieving three libraries, but closing Aspley Library and turning it into a hub.
He said the amount of responses to the consultation is “very good news and indicates strong support for the library service”.
“However, I am concerned that she focused a lot of her comments on possible partnership arrangements with the charitable and voluntary sector, around new ways of delivery,” he added.
“Though in making these comments, she indicated these were being explored to avoid closing library branches.
“Nottingham Save Our Services and Save Nottingham Libraries has been opposed to the library closure programme and the reduction in opening hours.
“We made our views clear at the consultation meetings held at the Council House, in July and August, and that we supported the current in-house service model across the library portfolio. Otherwise, there’s a danger of a two-tier service, unless they have plans to change the entire service model, which would obviously affect existing terms and conditions.
“I think if the proposals are implemented, including the up to 48 per cent reduction in opening hours, that could be the next battleground area, with communities fighting to keep their libraries open with the existing opening hours.”
