CONCERNED Redditch Labour Party has called on Worcestershire County Council officials to come clean over their future plans for the town’s library.

It follows increasing public discomfort over possible proposals to demolish the existing library with no clear suggestion as to where current services provided would go.

The concern comes at a time when the amount of people using the library services has increased considerably.

Figures released show that 9,258 people visited the library in January compared with 12, 328 this July.

Labour councillor Andy Fry has taken up the cause, he said: “Libraries are a statutory service, which means that any changes must be subject to public consultation.

“We have been asking for over a year for a plan to show where the libraries services and facilities would go, so that residents can have their say – and yet still nothing has been provided.

A proposal to demolish the library was made by the Towns Fund Board to create a new public space in front of the Kingfisher Centre.

Their preferred choice would be relocating the library services to Redditch Town Hall.

However Cllr Fry pointed out there would only be 321 square metres of unused space available at the Town Hall, while the existing library area covers 2,267 square metres, seven times more than the area available at the Town Hall.

Cllr Fry added: “We’ve been out and about listening to people’s concern and the proposed demolition of the library keeps coming up time and again.

“The increased footfall to Redditch town centre library shows that local people value their library. It’s in high demand and figures show people are coming back after the pandemic”.

Only last autumn, 2,000 people signed a petition to keep the library at the heart of Redditch with a guaranteed plan and full services. It was presented to Worcestershire County Council last November.