Library move plan set to get go ahead at Executive meeting

PLANS to move Wokingham Library from its current home in Denmark Street are set to be approved tonight (Thursday).

Wokingham Borough Council’s (WBC) Executive Committee are expected to approve the plans to move the library to the redeveloped Carnival Pool, which was agreed in principle earlier this year, at their meeting this evening.

WBC has recently published its proposals for the Carnival Phase 2 development, and invited comments from residents which were then used to complete the Impact Assessment and Business Case, which this week has been agreed by Cllr Norman Jorgensen, WBC’s Lead Executive Member for Environment.

The Council says that relocating the library will provide a number of additional benefits for existing library users and other residents, including approximately 150m2 of additional usage space; enhanced toilet facilities; greatly improved parking; and improved cafe facilities.

The new library is also being billed as a ‘flexible space’ which can be adapted to the changing needs of library users, and its bright, open appearance with lots of natural light will provide users with an appealing facility.

The new building also provides scope for longer opening times, including more opening at weekends.

The relocation of the library to its new location is not planned to take place until the latter part of 2021, so library users will be able to continue using the Denmark Street library until the new facility is ready.

Cllr Jorgensen said: “A lot of work has been done in the past few months to assess the idea of relocating the library in Wokingham to the new Carnival Phase 2 site.

“From the original Executive Report and its review through the Call-In process, the publicising of the proposals and now finally with the Impact Assessment and Business Case, this idea has been thoroughly appraised and I am pleased to be able to confirm my agreement to the relocation and a new home for Wokingham Library.

"I am grateful to everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts and suggestions on the proposal, either directly to me or through the drop-in sessions.

“Our Library Service places a very high value on understanding the views of our residents, and I would hope and encourage people to keep telling us what they would like to see in the new library as we plan for its opening in 2021.”

For more on the regeneration visit www. wokingham. gov. uk/ major- developments/ wokingham-town-centre-regeneration