Plans have been backed which could see millions of pounds being invested to protect a library service and breathe new life into a key community building.
A meeting of Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet yesterday (10 September) approved a recommendation that Ulverston’s library service be permanently re-located to The Coro in the town.
Cabinet also committed to work alongside the Ulverston community as it develops the library plans and establishes a new programme of activities at The Coro.
Following the closure of the King’s Road library building, Westmorland and Furness Council worked with architects and independent consultants to explore a range of options for delivering the library service, and also considered how any options could potentially affect the sustainability of The Coro.
In total eight options were analysed, all with different scope and costs. These ranged from ‘do nothing’ to light-touch upgrades and full refurbishments of the King’s Road Library building and The Coro, and various combinations of these approaches.
The only viable option available was evidenced to be Option 7 – the co-location of the library at The Coro - which was then widely consulted upon as the council’s preferred option. It was considered that consultation on options which the council determined that it could not deliver, or the assessment concluded did not meet the defined key objectives, would have been misleading and misrepresentative.
More than 1,000 people responded to the council’s public consultation survey on the proposal, with a majority supporting the plans.
The report to Cabinet showed that nearly 75% of people who responded to the survey said they would visit the library and Coro the same amount or more often following the changes under the proposed option, 53.5% of people agreed the proposal would deliver a library service that meets their needs and nearly 54% agreed the proposed option would help support and improve the cultural offer in Ulverston.
A final business case will now be developed and referred to Full Council to approve, which could see an estimated £2.5 million invested to remodel The Coro to create a cultural, learning and creative arts hub in Ulverston.
Layout changes at The Coro under the plans would include re-locating office spaces and the upstairs bar and kitchen to enable an expanded library on the first floor, including a dedicated children’s library area. This would also allow the creation of new flexible community-use spaces on both the ground and first floors, accessible toilet facilities on the ground and first floors and a new café bar area for use by both library and venue users.
100% of the active library stock from King’s Road would be available in the new library in The Coro, the new flexible community spaces created under the proposal would mean larger events and festivals at The Coro would have options for additional space without impacting the library facility and the flexible design under the changes would result in more space being available to community groups.
Councillor Virginia Taylor, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Communities and Localities, said the proposals demonstrated the council’s commitment to supporting cultural services.
Councillor Taylor said: “I recognise the huge value of our libraries, as places to borrow books and to study and access IT facilities.
“They’re treasure houses where generations of children have found their identities and their path in life, through exploring the many worlds represented in the written word, imaginative worlds and factual ones too. Of course digital and other media play their part, but opening the door to what literacy offers is key - and that magic key is inside every library. Libraries are additionally places for the arts, where voluntary groups meet, and increasingly they are places delivering community-based services and community meeting spaces.
“Against a national backdrop of cuts in funding for cultural services and financial pressures on councils – as highlighted by a BBC investigation reported only last week, that revealed many councils nationally are closing libraries or cutting back on library opening hours as they look to balance their finances - this council is determined to look at opportunities not only to protect our library services, but also to invest in them and in our cultural services. This commitment is central to our Council Plan, where we commit to ‘actively support the cultural economy to thrive.’
“Co-locating the library in the Coro represents a creative solution which will protect the library service and bring investment into a much-loved community and cultural building at the same time. As we promised in yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, we will set up systems with local partners and experts to find the ways and means to make these aims a reality and I look forward to that.’’
Councillor Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and Assets added:
“This is a big decision and it is a decision that is looking to the future.
“We need to recognise that the Coro needs to be more than just a theatre space. It needs to become more of a community space so that it is sustainable in the long-term.
“The co-location of the library will not only provide a modern, fit-for-purpose library service, but it is vital for providing The Coro with an ‘anchor tenant’ to drive footfall, especially during the daytime, and along with the proposed cafe will help ensure the venue is busy and in use by more people, for more of the time - exactly what we want from important community buildings like The Coro.
“The council now believes this proposal will not only set the scene to secure the long term future of both services, but the synergies between them will actually help to grow and strengthen the cultural and creative offer for the people of Ulverston and beyond.’’
Councillor Taylor acknowledged that the closure of the library building on King’s Road and subsequent discussions about the best way to deliver the service in the future had been an emotive topic.
She thanked the people of Ulverston and surrounding areas for their engagement and feedback during the council’s six-week consultation.
Library members, Coro users, community groups and organisations including Ulverston Town Council and Ulverston Town Team were engaged directly, while people could share their responses and comments via an online and paper copy survey.
Following further representations from the community at the Cabinet meeting, Councillor Taylor proposed an additional recommendation, which was approved, that agreed the council will work alongside Ulverston organisations and the local community as it develops its programme of activities around The Coro as an arts and cultural hub.
Councillor Taylor said: “Many views and opinions have been expressed on what people consider to be the best way forward.
“The results of the consultation process demonstrate that, after being presented with the evidence and the rationale for the proposed option, a majority of respondents to the consultation survey have agreed with the proposal and we will continue to work with the community as we develop the plans.’’