Altrincham’s libraries have escaped the threat of closure as part of Trafford Council’s cost-cutting plans – but are set to look very different under proposals revealed this week.
The council began a second phase of consultation with locals on Monday after unveiling a set of proposals based on an initial consultation with 1,400 people prior to Christmas.
The second phase will last for six weeks before feedback forms the basis of the council executive’s final decision in March.
It’s clear already though that there’s likely to be a series of wholesale changes to the way library services are offered in the town, in common with the whole of the borough.
Timperley Library will be reduced in size and part of the existing site given over to a GP’s surgery.
Below: Timperley Library on Stockport Road
The site of Hale Library is being offered to developers, with three options still available – reduction in size, relocation or closure.
The latter option has been proposed because Altrincham Library, as is already known, is to move wholesale to an entirely new site at the back of the existing hospital. Hale wouldn’t close until the new library opened in 2017.
The new 8,000 sq ft Altrincham Library site is less than half the size of the current 18,826 sq ft library on Stamford New Road, which attracts an average of around 11,000 visitors a month.
The council has agreed a 125-year lease with the owners of the old hospital site, Citybranch, with the new library to take up two floors with reception and exhibition space on the ground floor.
All three libraries will see the introduction of Scandinavian-type technology, similar to that found in bank foyers, so that users will be able to enter by swiping their library card and entering a four-digit number.
Below: The planned new site for Altrincham Library
Cllr Alex Williams, from Trafford Council, told Altrincham Today that the initial consultation period had shown that the “vast majority disagreed with closing libraries”.
He added: “The proposals have been shaped by the responses in phase one, and we have responded within the resources we have available. Our finances have been reduced [the council is having to save £700,000, almost a third of current library spend], which is why we can’t always do exactly what we want.
“We think we have come up with a proposal that allows libraries to remain while reducing the cost for the taxpayer. We have found a potential solution.”
As for the future of Hale Library, Cllr Williams added: “Hale is a very well-used library with a lot of support from volunteers, but we also have to bear in mind the proposal to build a new flagship library in Altrincham.
“The reason we have been fairly open (with what happens to it) is that there is a lot of demand for property in Hale, and there isn’t a huge amount of space. That’s why we’ve thrown it open to the market – this is an attractive site, what can we do with it?”
People can find out more and comment about the proposals at a number of consultation sessions on the dates below:
- Hale Library: Saturday 24 January, 10 – 11.30am
- Timperley Library: Wednesday 28 January, 10 – 11.30am and Thursday 12 February, 1 – 2.30pm
- Altrincham Library: Thursday 12 February, 6.30 – 8pm
The consultation will run until February 13th – full details about the proposals can be found on the council’s website here.
