Library to open new chapter in ‘culture’ move
STOCKPORT Central Library is to move to the Merseyway Shopping Centre as part of plans to create a new cultural hub in the town centre.
It has remained closed since March when the council shut all libraries and museums in the borough as the coronavirus pandemic took hold.
Making the building safe enough to reopen has proven difficult and the work needed to make it Covid-secure would be costly.
But it is set for a new home at the One Stockport Hub which the council wants to open at the old Argos store from early next year.
Town hall bosses describe it as a ‘new front door’ to the town centre, where residents can browse and borrow books, experience local history and get information and advice.
It is part of plans to boost the town centre and aid its recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Coun Kate Butler, cabinet member for citizen focus and engagement, said the ‘open, prominent’ unit was ideal for the hub.
She said: “When that became available I just absolutely jumped at the chance to get ahead of the bigger plan for the town centre.
“The bigger plan is focused on diversifying away from retail and making the town centre more of a community hub and more family friendly, giving people more reasons to come into the town centre.”
The current Carnegie library, on Wellington Road South, is a much-loved part of Stockport’s heritage.
But Coun Butler believes the new location could make the library more welcoming and accessible.
“One of my bugbears with libraries is it can be really difficult to get the message across to people that don’t use libraries - or don’t think that libraries are for them - to come in and have a look.
“You’re more likely to do that if you are in town and see this nice, bright, open modern space, that looks inviting and has people that look like you there.”
Bosses hopes that it acts as a forerunner for the ‘much larger town centre cultural and community hub’ it is planning for Merseyway.
Provided the council is successful in its bid for £14m of government cash - from the Future High Streets Fund - this would be based at the old BHS and M&S stores.
Coun Butler says she has taken advantage of the opportunity to start having a ‘conversation with the people of Stockport about ‘what a modern library service can look like and what it can feel like’. It’s giving them a taste of that ready for the bigger facility being ready further down Merseyway,” she added.
The former regeneration chief acknowledges people will be concerned for the future of the current library, but says the council has a proven record of preserving the town’s heritage.
She said: “We hope to find a use for it that’s in keeping with what the town centre needs. We are truly committed to preserving the town centre heritage and we know that it’s an iconic building.
“We do have a really good track record in preserving and developing some of our important heritage assets.”
She cites the White Lion, former sorting office, Produce Hall and the former Tatton Cinema in Gatley as examples of the council’s careful custodianship.
“I hope people can have confidence we will find a good, appropriate used for Central Library,” she said.
The One Stockport Hub consultation runs until the
October 19 and can be found here: https://consultation. stockport. gov. uk/ policy-performance-andreform/central-library/