Two former libraries to be sold off to balance city’s books

TWO former library buildings are expected to soon be sold by Leeds Council, it can be revealed.

The local authority has confirmed another four sites set to be sold in the coming weeks in order to raise funds.

Those include the former Methley Library, which closed in 2015, and the former Guiseley Library, which relocated to Aireborough Leisure Centre.

The other two properties include 1 Barden Place in Armley and the former caretaker’s house at St Francis of Assisi School in Morley – two buildings no longer in use.

The Barden Place site is going to be offered at auction this month, while the caretaker’s house and former Guiseley Library site are now “targeting a later auction date”.

Leeds Council added that the former Methley Library was “now unlikely to be sold via an auction”, but did not offer any more information as to how the sale would take place.

It brings the total number of sites that the council hopes to sell by the end of the year to 11, as seven sites were previously earmarked for sale, including Otley Civic Centre, Temple Newsam’s East Lodge, as well as land at Hill Crest in Swillington and Lea Farm Road in Kirkstall, all set to be put up for sale by auction imminently.

The council also hopes to bring Potternewton Park’s East Lodge in Chapel Allerton, the former Royal Park Primary caretaker’s house in Hyde Park and 100 Town Street, Armley, to auction in December.

Leeds Council has repeatedly warned that it needs to find funds to plug next year’s funding gap, thought to be £ 119m.