Old Town Councillor, Nadine Watts, Welcomes Old Town Library opening hours to be maintained until June

I welcome the news that the Council will be keeping the Old Town library open for the same hours as before the transfer of the Arts Centre until at least June when the libraries review is completed.

People in Old Town will continue to have the same access to their local library until June after a new operator took over the running of the Arts Centre.

Wyvern Theatre Ltd, who operate the Wyvern Theatre, officially took the reins of the Arts Centre on 1 April. As a result of the transfer of operations, it was thought there would be an impact on the opening arrangements for the Arts Centre including Old Town Library contained within it.

Under the new arrangements, proposals were being considered to keep the 18 core library hours per week, plus unstaffed time whenever the Arts Centre was open for performances. However, to enable continuity of access during the Arts Centre transfer period, it has been agreed that the existing 38 library hours will be maintained and provided by library staff.

The position will be reviewed by Cabinet in June, at the same time the results of the consultation on the draft Library Strategy are expected to be considered.
Old Town Councillor, Nadine Watts, said:

“I welcome the news that the Council will be keeping the Old Town library open for the same hours as before the transfer of the Arts Centre until at least June when the libraries review is completed.

The potential of the library opening hours reducing has been a significant concern of Old Town library users and I have repeatedly lobbied the Council to do all it can to retain the same opening hours at the library as when the Wyvern company took over the running of the Arts Centre. I seconded a motion on these grounds, which went before Full Council on 3 April.

I am pleased the Council has managed to do this, albeit only definitely until June, and I would urge them to find a way to keep the library open for 38 hours per week on a permanent basis.”