Somercotes Library Temporary Closure Extended Until June 2027
The temporary closure of Somercotes Library is to be extended for 16 months due to continued nearby building work which is affecting the delivery of the service.
The Derbyshire County Council-run library is based on the Somerlea Park Junior School campus on Bank Street, Somercotes, which is currently undergoing a complete redevelopment involving clearance of part of the site, demolition of existing buildings and construction of a new school.
Building work started on site last June and a decision was taken in November to temporarily close the library due to the noise, dust and disruption to visitors.
No suitable temporary alterative premises have been identified in the area, and at the time of announcing the closure the library service said it would re-visit the decision in March after assessing the situation.
Following a recent site visit, it was noted that the site remains very challenging to access, with significant volumes of HGV traffic around the building and the continued suspension of library parking spaces. While the new school premises is scheduled to be complete by this December, from next January to June 2027 contractors will be demolishing the existing school building, removing debris, bringing on site several hundred tonnes of topsoil and landscaping the demolition site.
As a result a decision has been taken to extend the temporary closure until June 2027.
Plans put in place to mitigate the temporary closure will remain. Pinxton Library will continue its extended hours, opening five days a week, with two additional afternoon openings, and increased activities are being offered at Pinxton and South Normanton libraries using staff who have temporarily relocated from Somercotes.
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Dawn Taylor said: “We really welcome the new school which is very positive, but the disruption caused to the library continues and is likely to for some time.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and hope the plans we have put in place in the meantime, for example the extended hours at Pinxton, are helping to mitigate the inconvenience.”
For more information about library opening hours go to Our Libraries - Derbyshire
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