Proposal to move Bromsgrove library to Parkside approved by council chiefs

The moving of the library is part of a scheme to turn the former school, in Stourbridge Road, into a one-stop shop of council services including council offices, a district council chamber, customer service centre, community hall and a registry office.

A 12-week public consultation was launched in July, and the majority of respondents, 74 per cent, supported having a new library in the Parkside redevelopment.

Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet gave the go-ahead at its latest meeting, held on November 8.

A planning application is set to be submitted by next February and, if planners give the go-ahead in July, work could be completed on the project by December 2014.

The council say the new library would improve services to town library users with increased opening hours, more space for adult and children's learning, extra meeting space, increased wifi and internet access, and a cafe.

In comparison, the council say the existing Stratford Road-based library is in need of costly repairs, has no flexible spaces for learning, and no potential for sharing spaces with other services.

The scheme is key to the council’s aim of making public sector savings, particularly as it needs to save £1.8 million from the libraries and learning service budget.

The Parkside redevelopment will overall cost £6.9 million, which is being equally split between the county and district council.

Councillor John Campion, the county council's cabinet member for communities and localism, said: "Bromsgrove would greatly benefit from the new facility as it would bring a new improved service to library users, and also bring new life to a public listed building which has a prominent town location."

Councillor Anthony Blagg, the county council's member for Bromsgrove Central, added: "We have seen the enormous success of The Hive in Worcester, and we would want a new library in Bromsgrove to have a similar impact on the community."