Thousands of books to remain at Stockport Central Library despite new £14m hub opening next year

Thousands of books are to remain at Stockport Central Library despite a new £14m ‘learning and discovery hub’ being due to open next year.The council’s previous Labour administration signed off on moving the service from its long-time home on the A6 to ‘Stockroom’ - a state-of-the-art facility at Merseyway.

The old Grade II-listed library was to become the new home for the town’s adult education service, currently at Hardman Street. But after taking the town hall reins following May’s local elections, the Liberal Democrats launched a ‘review into the removal of library services from our Carnegie-endowment Central Library’.

And at a full council meeting on Thursday night, new leader Coun Mark Hunter announced that library services would be retained at Central Library ‘in addition to library services in the town centre’. Further detail was given by Coun Grace Baynham, cabinet member for Highways, Parks and Leisure Services, who confirmed that - as per previous plans - the building would be home to the adult education service.

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She told the town hall meeting: “I’m pleased to report we will be retaining a comprehensive range of library services at Central Library. This will include a good selection of non-fiction material to enhance the adult education offer.

“It will also include 2,500 of the most popular fiction books. A range of ages will be catered for and there will be digital services and book ordering available.” The proposed move from Central Library had been highly controversial, with 7,000 people signing a petition against the move and the Tories and Lib Dems - then in opposition - fighting to have it overturned.