Council bosses have given the green light for a public consultation into the proposed relocation of Staveley and Clay Cross Libraries as part of multi-million pound town renewal plans.
Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet approved the consultation on plans to relocate Staveley Library, on Hall Lane, into the proposed commercial Pavilion Building, on Market Place, and to relocate Clay Cross Library from Kenning Park, on Holmgate Road, into the Adult Education Centre, on Market Street, which is to be developed into a Skills Hub.
The proposed schemes are part of the approximate £25m Town Deal renewal programmes for both Staveley and Clay Cross and the planned relocation of the libraries aims to improve and make the library services more efficient and popular.
During a recent Derbyshire County Council Cabinet meeting, Cllr Alex Dale, Cabinet member of Education, said the planned relocation of Clay Cross library will make a big difference to the town centre.
He added: “It’s a really exciting idea to bring the library back into the community and I look forward to seeing the responses from the consultations.”
The council has stated it aims to build on the successful community hub models that have been rolled out in Belper, South Normanton and Killamarsh, creating modern buildings with libraries in the heart of communities and delivering modern services with savings.
A council spokesman stated: “Both Town Deal projects offer new or refurbished buildings for the Library Service set within upgraded public spaces and will offer co-location with other key services such as employment and skills, food and drink etcetera.
“The importance of co-location with such complementary services has been evidenced through the improved footfall and customer feedback at libraries such as Killamarsh.”
Chesterfield Borough Council is overseeing the Staveley Town Deal and NE Derbyshire District Council is overseeing the Clay Cross Town Deal and they have outlined opportunities to create new or refurbished premises where the libraries could relocate.
The county council, which is working with both authorities as part of its overall library strategy, owns the current Clay Cross library which is situated away from the town centre and has 1,242 registered users.
If Clay Cross Library is relocated, Clay Cross Parish Council which currently leases the land, will be given an option to use the existing building for other uses or it could be demolished or the site could be returned to parkland or put to another use.
The parish council has also provisionally agreed to surrender the ground lease at no cost if the library moves to the Skills Hub.
Derbyshire County Council holds the freehold of Staveley Library, which currently has 1,219 registered users, so if it is relocated this building could be sold and options for its future leasing arrangements or uses are ongoing.
If Staveley Library is relocated to the proposed Pavilion Building being developed by Chesterfield Borough Council under the Town Deal Programme, the county council would take a lease of the space needed for the new library from the borough council.
Both libraries are currently situated away from their respective town centres but the county council believes that if they were relocated they would be based in the heart of their communities.
The council stated: “The Government’s Town Deal Programme has emerged and provides a real opportunity for creating modern library buildings based in the heart of communities, capable of not just delivering modern, fit for purpose services, but of helping achieve savings through more efficient buildings and potential co-location.”
The council feels refurbishment of the current Clay Cross and Staveley Libraries is not viable due to the investment that would be needed to address maintenance problems and poor energy consumption, and it also stated that Clay Cross library’s current location has made it vulnerable to vandalism.
Consultations will take place with the public, staff and key stakeholders, according to the county council, and any relocation of the libraries would not mean reduced services or changes to staffing.
The county council hopes the planned relocation of the libraries will increase public use and engagement with the services and create better opportunities for partners to link up.
Capital funding for the projects is available but the design, planning and contractor procurement have yet to be considered, and the business case, revenue implications and commercial viability have also yet to be finalised.
Derbyshire County Council’s overall Public Library Strategy which was approved in 2018 has already outlined plans to make £1.6m of savings.
The council aims to achieve this target by transferring 20 libraries to community management, changing opening hours at 25 libraries, undertaking a staffing review and a materials fund reduction, and by developing new methods of delivering mobile library vehicles in partnership with community organisations.
