The York Conservative-led Council has approved plans invest £500,000 towards funding a new library at Haxby Memorial Hall. The plans were approved at the Executive decision session for Leisure, Culture and tourism.
The plan is for the new library building to be built beside the hall, but linked to the existing building. The council funding will pay for approximately half of the new facility, with trustees of the Memorial Hall responsible for raising the remainder of the funds.
The previous 1960s library building was forced to close last summer after a structural survey found it to be unsafe. It was then relocated to Oaken Grove community centre and a new mobile library has now been purchased to be used until a new permanent facility is ready. This was funded by a one off capital grant from the council of £80,000.
Conservative Haxby and Wigginton councillor John Gates said: Ward councillors have worked closely with council officers, Memorial Hall stakeholders, Haxby Town Council and Wigginton Parish Council to bring this long-term vision to fruition and I am absolutely delighted that we are on course to deliver a new library for residents.”
Conservative Haxby and Wigginton councillor Tony Richardson said: “As both a ward councillor and a Haxby Town councillor I have been working to make this happen for a number of years and it’s taken our Conservative-led administration to finally get things underway. Uniting the library with the Memorial Hall gives it a better location with potentially more footfall and also lower running costs, so it’s a win-win situation all around.”
An open day will be held Saturday March 18th at the Memorial Hall from 10:30am to 3:30pm to give residents a chance to see the plans and to ask questions.