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| Grimsby Central Library - so many unanswered questions |
THE fate of Grimsby's Central Library could be determined by the end of next month.
By that time, NELC expects to have completed not just a comprehensive survey of the extent of asbestos in the building but also a full structural survey on its overall safety.
This sketchy information emerged during yesterday's special North East Lincolnshire scrutiny panel meeting in Grimsby Town Hall.
But, as Cllr Paul Henderson (Ind, Yarborough) emphasised, vital questions remain unanswered about the building which closed until further notice on March 28 and has since been emptied of its precious stock of books, rare documents and furnishings.
Bemoaning the lack of urgency in carrying out repairs, he sought immediate clarity from NELC's administration on costings and timelines.
Cllr Henderson queried whether there had even been a need to close the building at all.
"Who says it is unsafe?" he demanded. "If so, which part of it?
"Who made the closure decision? What are the credentials of the surveyors?
He continued: "The story does not stack up. Are we, as councillors, being steered down a pre-determined path by the administration?
"Are we witnessing, by increments, the creeping death of Grimsby Central Library and the 16 services it provides?"
Similar frustration was sounded by Malcolm Morland (Lab, Croft Baker) who described the library building as being of "national importance" and warned against "giving away our heritage".
A different perspective came from panel chairman Cllr Steve Holland (Ind, Freshney) who said he had heard it said that the whole of the building might be structurally unsafe.
He pinpointed a potential dilemma for the authority if any repair quote came in at £4-million.
During the discussion, there were several references to a Levelling-up grant of £4.2-million to upgrade the library and re-open its upper floors for community or educational use, but almost all that money was diverted - by who knows whom? - to the proposed redevelopment of part of the town centre to incorporate leisure facilities such as a new cinema and a Nando's restaurant.
Cllr Morland, who described the leisure scheme as "over-promoted", declared a personal interest in the future of the library because he is a a member of Grimsby and District Civic Society which has been campaigning for the library service to be retained.
Perhaps surprisingly, Cllr Tim Mickleburgh (Lab, South) who has regularly used the central library as a place of work, decided not to declare a personal interest.
It was hoped that NELC's director of infrastructure, Carolina Borgstrom, might provide the meeting with important information on costs, timelines and the state of the library.
Much of what she said was inaudible to the public, but she made a general comment about the "complexity" of maintaining old buildings, adding that decisions on the future Grimsby Library were the remit of councillors, not officers.
Part of the meeting was held behind closed doors, with public and Press excluded, on grounds of confidentiality.
*NELC agrees to 'temporary' pop-up library in Freshney Place shopping centre - see previous report.
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