Shadow over future of central library darkens as councillors ponder likely size of repair bill

                                  

The central library - will it ever re-open?

DOUBTS over the future of  the Grimsby Central Library have increased after it emerged that the total bill for repairs and renovation could be £13-million plus.

An even if the money could be found  - and there was the political will to carry out the works - the library might not open until spring 2029 at the earliest.

Previously, North East Lincolnshire Council kept this information under wraps but now it has relented in  recognition of its pledge to be transparent with the public.

NELC says work to remove  asbestos from the plant room at the top of the library is "progressing well" and that the "next steps" for the building are now under consideration. 

In a statement, it says:  "Once the roof has been  either repaired or replaced, other asbestos would need to be removed, as far as practicable,  in order to bring the building back into use - a process thyat could take as long as a year.

"Thereafter, further external and internal works could also include replacement of windows as well as the internal works prior to bringing back into use the basement, ground floor and mezzanine floors.

"Ideally, the long-empty upper floors would also be brought back inmto use for office space and/or cultural / community use." 

Then comes the bombshell sentence: "Depending on the fit-out options for the building, the total works could cost between £12.3million and £13.6-million with the earliest potential reopening date of around Spring 2029.

A select committee of the council has called for capital funding to be agreed "on an urgent basis" to protect the building from further ingress of rain which has been threatening the fabric of the building for  many a moon.

Its chairman, Cllr Steve Holland (Ind) says:  “This committee is still gathering evidence and wants to hear as many views as possible. 

"This will be particularly important in deciding the future of Grimsby Central Library."

He continues: "We are confident at this stage that a solution can be found which preserves the heritage and unique architecture of the building but which will also make it fit-for-purpose on a practical level so that it can become a treasured community asset for decades to come.

"The barrier will be cost of course, and that is something that needs to be collectively addressed with the aim of trying to achieve a consensus."

In the meantime, a pop-up library is operating within the Freshney Place precinct.