At last night’s meeting of Stockport Council, the Liberal Democrat Cabinet confirmed that library services will be retained at Stockport’s Carnegie-endowment Central Library, despite the previous administration’s decision to ignore overwhelming public demand for this.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Grace Baynham, Cabinet Member with responsibility for the Library Service, said: “We have listened to residents and worked hard to find an affordable way to unpick Labour’s decision to remove library services from Stockport Central Library without undermining the viability of the new Stockroom provision and whilst still offering a new base for Stockport’s Adult Education service.
“Renovation and sensitive remodelling works will be needed to improve accessibility, to ensure there are appropriate learning spaces for Adult Education and allow the use of Open+ technology to maximise opening hours, so there will be a brief closure of the Central Library once Stockroom opens. That is well over a year away.”
Leader of the Council, Cllr Mark Hunter, added: “In the eight weeks since I was elected as Leader of the Council this has been one of our main priorities and we have worked tirelessly to find a way to honour our promise of keeping the Central Library open to the public. The Liberal Democrats promised to listen and to act, and we will deliver a great new resource in the town centre within one of our heritage jewels.”
