Relocating Richmond’s library is “only option”

Relocating Richmond’s library is the only option to keep the service open due to a lack of investment into the existing building over many years, concerned residents have been told.

North Yorkshire Council has announced that the town’s library will move from its current location in Queens Road to the council-owned Mercury House, in Station Road.

The move is scheduled to take place in late autumn.

Concerns have been raised that the decision has been taken without a public consultation exercise.

Residents have also claimed the new location will be harder to access by disabled people as it’s further away from the town centre and transport links, and down a hill.

But council officials say the current location has suffered from maintenance issues and the relocation will secure the service’s future.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for libraries, Councillor Simon Myers, said: “We know how valued Richmond Library is to the town, so we are taking the opportunity to secure a base that better reflects the evolving needs of our community.

“The new space will offer a more flexible layout, a welcoming environment, and improved accessibility to other council services.

“Our volunteers are committed to maintaining a library in Richmond, which may not be possible in its current location due to the risk of further deterioration of the building.

“This move will ensure future stability for this valued facility in a safe, well-maintained building.”

Richmond councillor, Stuart Parsons, added: “The other option was that we wouldn’t have a library at all.

“There’s been a lack of investment over many, many years, not just from the new council but from North Yorkshire County Council.

“This meant that repairs weren’t carried out, they didn’t repair the roof, they didn’t block holes, and they didn’t get rid of the rats.

“So they’ve created the situation, but the only solution is, that if we want the library to stay, it has to move.”

Council officials say the new library will be a more modern space and that the move is better value for money by making use of the council’s own buildings.

Since 2017, the library has been run in partnership with the community organisation CRACCL, which serves Colburn, Catterick and Richmond libraries.

The community organisation is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the interior space, with North Yorkshire Council responsible for exterior works.

The building is partly leased from an external landlord.

Officials say the new library space will operate solely on the ground floor, unlike the current building where some of the library is not accessible to disabled people.

The new venue also benefits from disabled parking, they add.