Broomhill bookworms set for new bigger library (Paul Scriven)

Broomhill bookworms set for new bigger library

March 3, 2010 11:39 AM

Broomhill councillors and Nick Clegg MP outside Broomhill Library (l-r, Cllr Shaffaq Mohammed, Cllr Alan Whitehouse, Cllr Paul Scriven, Nick Clegg MP).

Local people around the Broomhill area are celebrating after the Liberal Democrats on Sheffield City Council confirmed they have found the investment needed to provide a new bigger library.

Under the plans the current small Broomhill Library, situated in a Victorian building originally constructed to be a home, will be replaced with a much bigger and better library right in the heart of the community. This is exactly in line with what local people in the community wanted.

The proposal involves working with a developer on the new site on Ashgate Road. When local people feedback on the original plans they said that the proposed new Library would be too small, at 265 square metres. However thanks to the Lib Dems extra investment of £300,000 they have been able to increase the size to 475 square metres.

Cllr Paul Scriven, Liberal Democrat Leader of Sheffield City Council and local Broomhill councillor, said:

"I know that local people in Broomhill will be delighted with this news. Whilst the old Library is much loved, it's simply not big enough and is not in the best location. The new modern Library, right in the heart of the community, will now be much larger than originally planned.

"I'm delighted that the Liberal Democrats are delivering on local peoples priorities after years of Labour neglect."

The plan will also see the Council save £17,700 a year as the new Library would require less maintenance and is more energy efficient. The project will be able to start as soon as the developer can begin work.

Paul added "By working with the developer we have been able to come up with a solution that provides a new first class Library for local people and actually saves council taxpayers money in the long run. The next stage is making sure that work commences as soon as possible."

The report confirming the plan will go to the 2pm 24th February meeting of Sheffield City Council's Cabinet.