County Councillors visit Hucknall Library to reassure staff and community that it will not close

Two Nottinghamshire County Councillors visited Hucknall Library yesterday (Tuesday 22 March) to reassure staff and the local community that it will not be closing or relocating.

Councillor John Cottee and Councillor Keith Girling were joined by Hucknall West District Councillor Kevin Rostance on a short tour of the library. They were also able to meet staff members and speak with them about how they have adapted post pandemic restrictions being lifted.

Rumours had been rife that Hucknall Library would be relocated from South Street to the new £15.7million County Council offices that are due to be built at the Top Wighay Farm site, on the edge of Hucknall.

However, these rumours were branded nonsense by the Conservative run administration earlier this month.

Despite this, the Councillors still felt the need to pay an in-person visit to the town and its library.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, Councillor Cottee, the chairman of the authority's Communities Committee said: "The main reason (for visiting the library) is to come and see the staff and any members of the public that are around in the library and want to have a chat, and to confirm to them that this library isn't in jeopardy, we're not closing it.

"We want to make sure that the staff are happy and not worried about their jobs, and the community as well, losing their library, because it's not even on the agenda."

Councillor Girling, chairman of the Council's Economic Development and Asset Management Committee, said: "We felt it was important to come and see the staff, reassure them, actually we're looking at enhancing libraries not reducing them. We've got over 60 libraries and we're passionate about them.

"It's a community hub, it's a really valuable asset. It's a great library and it's staying."

For more information about Hucknall Library, click here.