Press Release from Herefordshire Council:
Cabinet today (Thursday 20 July) agreed to pause the decision to relocate Hereford’s new library and learning centre to Maylord Orchards following a strategic review of options for its re-location.
A decision was taken to complete a full business case that will assess the benefits and viability of re-locating the library to the Shirehall, which has been identified as their preferred location. A final decision will be made by the Cabinet in October.
It was considered the Shirehall could deliver greater benefit to the city and county whilst breathing new life into and bringing an outstanding heritage asset back into use as a civic building and creating a showpiece library and learning centre within it.
Councillor Bramer, Cabinet Member Community Services and Assets commented:
“It is important to me and my fellow Cabinet members, that we provide Herefordshire with the best possible library and learning facilities for our communities.
“We have considered a number of preferred location options and welcome the opportunity to undertake a full and robust business case to assess the viability and explore the significant potential that Cabinet believes that the Shirehall can offer.
“The relocation of the library and learning centre would form part of a reinstated Shirehall refurbishment project.
“I’m confident this will enable us to deliver modern and outstanding library and learning services and facilities in a prominent city centre location, whilst bringing a significant heritage site back into use as a civic asset and catalysing wider regeneration.
“As a home for creative activity, culture and for communities, it would emphasise the importance of learning and literacy, including digital literacy, to the county’s future success. It would invigorate and make accessible the arts, culture and heritage, whilst providing space within an historic setting for the library to develop its range of learning services and encourage greater public use of its range of facilities.”
The library is currently located in its temporary home within Hereford’s Museum Resource and Learning Centre at 58 Friars Street. It will stay there until a new permanent location is agreed and developed.
The library moved out of its former home in Broad Street so that building can undergo an £18 million redevelopment to become a world class museum and art gallery, as reported earlier this week.
For the latest details on the library project, visit the council’s webpage.
