12-month Teesdale Mercury subscription
Price:£59.80
Novel idea for superstore
Sep 7, 2010
A WARNING has been sounded after council officials refused to rule out moving Barnard Castle library to a proposed supermarket site.
As the Mercury revealed last month, plans are being drawn up to build a supermarket on the town’s auction mart, in Vere Road.
New libraries have been built elsewhere in the UK as part of supermarket developments.
The plans for Barnard Castle’s auction mart suggest a similar scheme and it is understood that Durham County Council has been in discussions about the site.
When asked whether Barnard Castle’s library could be moved, county council officials said they were considering all options.
Concerns have been raised that a new library in Vere Road would not be as accessible as the current building, which is situated off the high street.
There are also worries about town centre businesses losing out on trade if the library is relocated.
County councillor Barbara Harrison said: “I would be against any plan to close the library and build a new one on the auction mart.
“The library is well used, it’s in the town centre and it is accessible.”
However, Cllr Harrison said she could understand “where the county council was coming from”.
“Other supermarkets have libraries but I don’t think that’s the way for us,” she added.
The councillor also said she was worried about the possible effect on other library services, such as internet access for residents.
Barnard Castle Library was opened in 1976 on Hall Street.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said he would prefer the library to stay where it is.
“There’s an issue with footfall – would shops miss out because the library is out of the town centre?” he asked.
Last week, national campaigners warned that up to 1,000 council
libraries could close within 18 months after figures revealed falling use.
But Durham County Council said no decisions had been made about its buildings.
Chris Rolle, the council’s head of asset management, said: “As part of our drive to deliver the highest quality public services for customers across the county, we are reviewing all of our council offices.
“We will be considering all available options but have not yet made any decisions in Barnard Castle, or any other area.”
If a new supermarket is built on the auction mart, Barnard Castle and Teesdale Farmers’ Auction Mart Company would move to a purpose- built site elsewhere.
The Mercury understands it will be 2013 at the earliest before building work on the supermarket could begin.
Mr Rolle was asked whether the council’s objectivity would be put in question if it has the final say on plans that would include the construction of a new library to be run by the authority.
He replied: “The planning process is completely objective with decisions made by planning committee members based on the evidence that is put before them.”