Petition against moving Stafford library to 'anaemic and lifeless' site
People in Stafford do not want the town's library moved to an 'anaemic and lifeless' building, it has been claimed.
Bosses at Staffordshire County Council are planning to close the Shire Hall as part of the £102 million budget cuts.
The library based there would move to the council's headquarters Staffordshire Place.
Campaigners opposed to the move secured a council debate after collecting a petition containing more than 2,500 signatures.
At the Prosperous Staffordshire Select Committee on Friday, Councillor Maureen Compton, who spearheaded the petition, said people in Stafford did not want the library to move.
She said: "People want the Shire Hall to remain as it is. We do not want it broken up. It's a well used building and very much loved by the people of Stafford.
"One person emailed me saying they didn't want the siting of the library in an anaemic and lifeless building such as Staffordshire Place. Staffordshire Place is not an appropriate building.
The people of Stafford don't think so.
"They think it's horrendous."
Hednesford and Rawnsley Councillor George Adamson added his support. He said: "Shire Hall is an important part of our heritage. Once Shire Hall is gone, it's gone forever. It will not come back. It's too important to let it go."
The number of signatures on the petition is now 2,915. A feasibility study has suggested that the ground floor of Staffordshire Place would be a more suitable and accessible site for the library than the Shire Hall.
No decision has yet been taken on the future of the Shire Hall art gallery and craft shop.
Committee members were told by county council deputy chief executive and director for place Helen Riley that there were no current plans to move the gallery or sell off the building.
There had been concerns that the prominent building could be turned into a pub, but bosses have ruled that out, adding they were investigating what other uses there could be.
The authority is hoping to reduce the number of empty or costly buildings to lower the cost to the taxpayer.
Shire Hall is reported to cost £218,000 a year to run.
A full business case is being drawn up regarding the move of the library and cabinet will make a final decision later this year.
