A Derbyshire village library will be closed for six months due to dust and noise disruption from a neighbouring school rebuild.
Somercotes Library in Bank Street, Somercotes, shares the same site as Somerlea Junior School which is being almost entirely demolished and rebuilt.
The Department for Education redevelopment scheme for Somerlea, which will increase the dilapidated school’s capacity to 240 pupils, was approved by Amber Valley Borough Council last April.
However, documents from Derbyshire County Council detail that the construction works are proving too disruptive to continue operating the library facilities.
As a result, it will be temporarily closed until April 6 next year, when the demolition and construction of the site has been completed.
In the interim, additional services will be operated from South Pinxton Library, with staff to be redeployed to the site, four miles away.
This will include widening Pinxton’s opening schedule to five days a week – opening on a Monday – with two extra evening sessions (Monday and Thursday).
A council report on the issue details: “As works have progressed, it has become increasingly apparent that the construction and demolition process is having a significant negative impact on delivery of the library service.
“Noise, dust and disruption have led to a significant impact on users, and it has not been possible for some activities to be run in the library with the construction noise and vibrations disturbing library users.
“The council has investigated whether there are any suitable premises to which the library could be temporarily relocated in Somercotes.
“However, none have been identified that could be easily occupied without additional revenue expenditure to meet rental and premises costs, and/or one-off relocation and fit-out costs.”
Pinxton’s new opening hours will be:
Monday – 2pm-5pm
Tuesday – 2pm-5pm
Wednesday – 9.30am-1pm, 2pm-5pm
Thursday – 9.30am-1pm, 2pm-5pm
Friday – 9.30am-12.30pm
The new two-storey school, with solar panels on its roof, would have capacity for 240 pupils aged seven to 11 with eight classrooms and a dining hall.
Once complete, the school would have 15 car parking spaces and three spots for disabled drivers.
The site will include a 2,500 square metre playing field and a multi-use games area surrounded by fences with layouts for tennis, netball and football.
