Supporters counting days to library opening
CHARLOTTE GREEN
CAMPAIGNERS are overjoyed that Oswaldtwistle library is set to reopen - more than a year after it was closed and following a £50,000 refurbishment.
The Union Road library will have its grand re-opening ceremony at 9am on Monday, January 15.
The building had been closed in September 2016 as part of cuts by the then Labour-controlled Lancashire County Council (LCC), but this was reversed after the Conservatives took control after elections last May.
Gayle Knight, who was a key founding member of the LAMP group which formed to save the library from the axe, told the Observer the date marked the ‘final step’ for campaigners. She said: “It will be exciting, it has been a bit of a journey, it’s been hard work. When the library closed 18 months ago the amount of people who it upset you couldn’t imagine, it was a lifeline for a lot of people.
“It’s good to know that we have managed to achieve it and it will be open for the people of Oswaldtwistle. There will be a lot going on there now and hopefully it’s a huge positive for the town because it left a big gap in the middle of the town.”
A new heating system, windows, and computers have been installed at the Carnegie library, which dates from 1915, as part of an internal refurbishment. Two librarians have been employed to staff the building, and volunteers have formed an official supporters group under the name of ‘Oswaldtwistle Library Friends’.
Gayle added: “We want to work with the library to put events on and organised activities and basically help it become the hub of the community again. Before the library closed it was quite an active place, there were lots of small groups that met there and we want to get them back up and running. The Friends group will also do fundraising so we can expand the events on offer.
“After everyone’s hard work we hope people will come out and show their support for the library.”
Oswaldtwistle county councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “It’s a great day, I am glad that our election promise has been fulfilled. We were very, very sad in Oswaldtwistle when we lost the library, it’s extremely valuable to the community groups, it’s extremely valuable to schools, and I am delighted to be reopening it next Monday.
“I hope that people in Oswaldtwistle will make full use of it, because you don’t miss it until it’s gone.”