Three libraries to be relocated despite concerns

Three libraries are set to be relocated into other buildings, despite concerns from residents.

Coventry City Council has approved plans to move the services in Bell Green, Coundon and Holbrooks at a meeting on Wednesday.

Hundreds of residents had signed petitions and objected to the proposals following fears of reductions to footfall, staff and books.

The cabinet member for finance, councillor Richard Brown, said the relocation would save £625,000 per year.

He added that the change was part of a wider council plan that aimed to prevent services from being shut down by bringing them closer together.

"I believe that through this extensive consultation process we have found the best way to keep our libraries open, give better joined-up access to more services and save the taxpayer some money," Brown said.

The council previously proposed that the libraries would be moved to join other council services at venues including a leisure centre.

Councillor Esther Reeves, Green group leader, highlighted that library opening hours would change - two of the services would close earlier and one would not open on weekends.

She told the meeting: "I think it's a little disingenuous to say that you're not closing libraries when you are closing it to a portion of the society who cannot get to it in a working day."

Reeves added that other barriers people may face had not had enough consideration.

Speaking at the meeting about the relocation of the Coundon service she said: "I've had people tell me that some families will not go somewhere that is social services because they are concerned about interacting with social services.

"Often an unnecessary concern but it's still there."

In response to Reeves an officer said the authority had "done their best" to consider the impact of the move and added that it planned to evaluate the change six months after it was introduced.

"We fully recognise we can't describe the proposals as being an improvement overall," the officer added.

Councillor Kindy Sandhu said that the council had also considered a community-run library in Canley after it conducted community surveys.

The services will be relocated as early as possible in 2025, a meeting report revealed.

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