Future Of Three Wrexham Libraries To Be Scrutinised

On Wednesday the Homes, Environment & Communities Scrutiny Committee will meet to discuss the future of three of Wrexham’s libraries. 

Last week Wrexham Council announced their recommendations to save £45 million over the next five years, which included possible cuts to leisure services, changes to street cleaning services and also  changes to bus services. Among the recommendations it was also proposed they explore options to reduce the cost of providing the library service including reduced opening hours and the closure of three public libraries. It is estimated that this could save £92,000. You can read the full Council report here.

However in a report to go before the Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, it is recommended Committee supports the Executive Boards proposal to close three of Wrexham’s public libraries. The report will focus on how / if changes to library opening hours (across all libraries or though the closure of three libraries) can make significant financial savings and what impact this will have on the Council’s achievement of the Public Library Standards for Wales. A full PDF of the report can be found here.

The three libraries that face potential closure are Gresford, Brymbo and Rhos. It is proposed that the three libraries are not replaced with a mobile library.

The three libraries which are proposed for closure has been based on four factors; on levels of usage, the condition of the buildings, levels of recent investment and finally their proximity to other libraries. Listed below is a breakdown and the reasons for the proposed closure of Brymbo, Rhos and Gresford libraries:

a) Brymbo – highest net cost per visit; poor location and access with no recent investment; low population base; falling usage between 2001/02 and 2012/13;alternative provision in Brynteg & Coedpoeth libraries
b) Gresford – 5th highest net cost per visit; poor location on busy road; no recent
investment; alternative provision in Llay library
c) Rhos – high cost per visit; decline in usage; highest level of savings

It is stated within the Council report that there are five possible options that could help with reductions in Council spending. These options include reducing opening hours across all libraries in Wrexham, closing two small libraries, closing two small libraries and altering opening hours for those that remain open, closing three libraries but supplementing them with a mobile library, and finally closing three of Wrexham’s libraries and not replacing them with a mobile alternative.

It is recommended that the preferred option would be to close the libraries listed above. However the report notes that his option would take the Council’s performance below what is expected from the Welsh Public Library Standards. This would mean that “the service would be below the population minimum Standard for opening hours (down to 107) and below the Standard for aggregate public area offered by the library service.”

Since it was announced last week that three libraries face closure, a petition has been launched to save Rhos library. The petition states: “In 2008 Rhos library was awarded £100,000 grant from CyMAL to refurbish the building which is a key part of day to day life in Rhos and the surrounding communities of Penycae, Pant, Ponciau and Johnstown. The nearest library, if closure is agreed, will be in Ruabon.” You can view the petition here.

(Pictured: Wrexham library which does not face closure)