Council leader warns 'use libraries or lose them'

A city council leader has issued a "use it or lose it" message after confirming under-threat libraries will no longer close.

This week, campaigners fighting to keep Woodston Library in Peterborough open welcomed the city council's decision to save it.

In 2023, the library was added to a list, now under review, of 79 council assets, including community centres, to potentially be sold to balance its budget deficit.

"This administration has had a relook at how we can improve library services and those libraries have now come off the asset disposal list," said the council's Labour leader, Shabina Qayyum.

"They [libraries] are no longer at threat of closure under our administration."

There are 10 static libraries, including the Central Library, across Peterborough.

Campaigns have had previously called for libraries, including those in Woodston, Bretton and Eye, to be saved.

Jenny Storey, of Friends of Woodston Library, said the group fought a "hard and long battle" over the past two years to save the site, adding that residents were "pleased" it would stay open, and for longer.

Representative from Eye Library said they had yet to hear any confirmation from the council.

Qayyum said last year the local authority undertook a "comprehensive needs assessment" of the library service, with plans to further improve them, and ensure they remained "accessible and fit for the future".

"Lots of people rely on library service, not just to read books but for IT access, for community use and remote access to e-books and other digital resources," she said.

"Officers are working on a new library strategy... which will review staffing, the viability of existing buildings and opportunities for transformation."

She said there were no "savings or closures being sought" under this review, due to take place between spring and summer.

Qayyum, a councillor for East ward, added: "My message really is that if we don't use it, we will lose it.

"The reason why we get to these places is because often we see that facilities aren't used and maybe this is a wake-up call for all of us to value our assets more, and hopefully we'll see a positive outcome."

The council is currently run by a coalition of Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Peterborough First group. Labour is currently the largest group with 13 seats.

Conservative councillor John Howard said: "I think it's great news that all the libraries are safe because that's something cross-politically everyone has been pushing for over the last few years.

But Howard, who represents city's Hargate and Hempstead Ward, highlighted improvements needed at the local Hampton library.

He said: "It's a big space and I think there are other services we can look at across the wider estate, like post office collection or NHS prescription collection.

"It's not just about saving them today. It's making sure they're sustainable."

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