Council to put aside £10m for permanent library

Councillors have approved plans to set aside £10m for a permanent library in Grimsby town centre.

An amendment was passed by North East Lincolnshire Council as part of the authority's wider budget on Thursday.

The measure does not commit the funding to Grimsby Central Library, which has been shut since March, as the council are still waiting for an assessment of the costs of restoring it.

However, it does commit the council to a permanent library in the town centre, and ensures the current pop-up library in Freshney Place is only temporary.

Grimsby Central Library was closed last March due to water damage and the potential effect that would have on the asbestos within the building.

The temporary library was set up in Freshney Place shopping centre in November.

Councillors were previously told refurbishment of the central library was likely to cost between £12.3m and £13.6m.

Steve Holland, an independent councillor, introduced the amendment to the council's budget and explained it earmarks capital spending over the next three years for a permanent library.

The total investment will be divided into £1m in 2026/27, £5m in 2027/28, and £4m in 2028/29.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the move does not impact on the local authority's revenue, or day-to-day spending because it uses flexibility within the council's capital budget.

"I would emphasise on top of that earmarked capital provision, we also need, of course, to be exploring every possible opportunity for external funding to make sure that we have a library that is fit for purpose and fit for the next 25 years," Holland said.

Other councillors supported the investment, in recognition of the need for a bigger, permanent library.

Councillor Nicola Aisthorpe said it was significant civic asset for any community.

"Residents have been clear that they want a permanent town centre library restored," she said.

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