Better late than never - work set to start this week on removing asbestos from Grimsby Central Library

 

Grimsby Central Library - closed since the end of March

EIGHT months after an 'asbestos distubance' alert prompted the closure of Grimsby Central Library, a project to remove the potential harmful substance is set to beg.

In a statement today, North East Lincolnshire Council said: "Work to deal with the leaking roof will start later this week. 

"Following the erection of scaffolding,  specialist contractors will begin a 12-week programme of work to remove asbestos from the plant room at the top of the building.

"Once it has all been removed, a full inspection of the roof will  take place, after which recommendations can be put forward on what repairs need to be done to the roof to address rainwater ingress into the building."

The statement continues: "There is also a small amount of water leaking through some of the windows."

NELC's leader, Cllr Philip Jackson, comments: "Like almost all buildings of this age, asbestos is an issue.

"Until this is dealt with properly, we cannot move forward with any plans for this building. 

"We need to take this one step at a time, and deal with what we have in front of us."

In the meantime, a temporary 'pop-up' library on Baxtergate in Freshney Place is open from Tuesdays to Fridays between 8.30am and 5.30pm, and on Saturdays from 9am-1pm.

According to NELC,  around 157,000 items, including around 94,000 books, maps, negatives, photographs, microfilm, slides and other material from the local history collection, have been moved from the central library to storage.

* The situation with the library is set to be discussed  tomorrow morning (November 27) at a meeting in Grimsby Town Hall of NELC's Economy, Culture and Tourism Scrutiny Panel.