Dewsbury library relocation plans take next step despite 'no move' pleas

The relocation of Dewsbury Library Hub has taken a step forward as works get underway. The decision to shift the town’s library from its current premises on Railway Street to the Walsh

Building next to Dewsbury Town Hall was met with opposition from locals, who wished for it to stay put. But the move is going ahead regardless, with the new library to be co-located with the

town’s customer service centre. Before the decision was made, a seven-week period of consultation was carried out by Kirklees Council, with library users, staff, community groups,

councillors and the public. Of 301 respondents, 66 per cent (198 people) said it was either ‘important’ or ‘very important’ that the library remain in its current location. Refurbishment

work has now begun at the new centre with renovations to be carried out over a period of 12 weeks. In this time, the building will be transformed with improved toilets, new flooring and

décor, rewiring, roof repairs and the creation of a modern library setting. The Library Hub will continue to offer integrated library and customer support with access to council services,

digital and IT support, free Wi-Fi and events and activities including story times, rhyme times and Knit and Natter groups. Councillor Amanda Pinnock, Cabinet Member for Communities and

Environment, said: “This project is about much more than relocating a library, it’s about creating a welcoming, accessible space at the heart of Dewsbury that supports our wider regeneration

ambitions for the town. “The new Library Hub will be a vibrant community resource that’s fit for the future. It integrates library and customer support so that residents can access many

services all in one place.” Kirklees Council says that a council-wide review of assets in 2023 identified the opportunity to refurbish and modernise the Walsh Building, creating a multi-use

civic hub, with public consultation shaping the proposals. The relocation also aligns with the Dewsbury Blueprint, a long-term regeneration plan for the town. Bringing the library into the

heart of Dewsbury also aims to increase town centre footfall and enhance the use of civic spaces. The council says that improvements currently being undertaken around the Walsh Building and

Dewsbury Town Hall will make both the area and its public buildings much more accessible and welcoming to visitors. _GET ALL THE LATEST AND BREAKING HUDDERSFIELD NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

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