Never-ending tale of the new library that never opens

SHERWOOD RESIDENTS TO TAKE TO STREETS AGAIN

- By OLIVER PRIDMORE

WORK on the new Sherwood Library is said to have “ground to a halt” as Nottingham City Council appears unable to commit to its latest promised opening date.

The library was originally set to open in summer last year, but there have been repeated delays and a row between the city council and a developer.

A Labour councillor has now launched a petition calling on the council to commit to an opening by July 15.

But in its latest statement, when asked to commit to its last pledge of the library being open in time for this coming summer, the council only committed to opening it “as soon as possible, subject to essential work taking place”.

Residents and campaigners are preparing to protest outside the library to demand its opening this year.

Here is the story of a seemingly never-ending saga.

The “tired” building that needed replacing

Nottingham City Council first launched a consultation in 2017 on plans for a new Sherwood Library. The Sherwood branch library first opened in 1957 and, 60 years later, a city council spokesperson said: “The current library is in a tired building which requires repairs which are likely to increase in the future.

“A new building would provide a modern purpose-built library which would be more energy efficient and economical to run.”

The end of the consultation period saw the council try to identify the best developer to move the project forward.

Contracts signed and plans revealed

It was confirmed in December 2020 that a contract had been signed between the council and Hockley Developments for Sherwood Library in what was described as a “new era” for the area.

The agreement said the library would be built at no capital cost to the council, with a new 125-year lease being created at a nominal rent.

Plans for the Spondon Street site also included former social services offices, a car park and three shops.