Campaigners pleased under-threat library saved

Campaigners fighting to keep an under-threat library open said they were "pleased" it had been saved.

In 2023, Woodston Library in Peterborough was added to the city council's plan to dispose of 79 assets - including community centres and libraries, to balance its budget deficit.

Jennie Storey, from Friends of Woodston Library, said the group was informed this week that the library was "coming off the list for the next three years for which the budget has been set".

Councillor Zameer Ali, cabinet member for communities, poverty and public health, said: "We are looking to remove all libraries from the asset disposal list."

Friends of Woodston Library - a group formed by local residents - has been fighting for the past two years to save the facility, adding that the closure would be "devastating" for the local community.

Previously, during a review of all of the properties it owns, the council suggested the library was no longer needed and may look to move the service elsewhere.

However, campaigners argued the library, which is almost 75 years old and in Orchard Street, was not being used to its full potential due to a lack of staff and limited opening hours.

Storey, who has lived in Woodston for more than 27 years, said: "The community is delighted that the library will continue to be open.

"It's been a long and arduous campaign. But what that's actually done is brought us together in a much stronger way as a community.

"The other part of our campaign that's been successful is we've secured longer opening hours through the self-service system so the library will be accessible from 08:00 to 19:00 BST, seven days a week so that is just amazing."

She said the "fight is not over", as the group will continue to campaign for the facility to be further improved.

"The next stage is about looking at the neglect that the library has experienced over the years and we will be campaigning for improvements to the building, to the equipment and to the resources and what's on offer at the library," she said.

Ali said: "We are committed to ensuring no libraries will close in the city.

"In fact, plans are in place to develop a strategy to explore how the library service can modernise and play a part in improving literacy levels for children and adults.

"We have extended library opening hours through Open Plus and are looking to improve access across the service."

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