Town council takes over community library

Management of a library is to be taken over by Wellington Town Council, following a model already used at other community libraries in Telford.

An agreement, which comes into effect from 1 April, will see Wellington Library services and staff transfer from Telford & Wrekin Council to the town council.

"With over 3,000 registered users and over 66,000 items borrowed per year, it's clear that Wellington Library is much-valued," town council clerk Karen Roper said.

It will remain at Wellington Civic Centre and continue to be open seven days a week.

Telford & Wrekin Council's First Point, which provides access to local authority services, will also remain.

Ms Roper said: "We will be maintaining the current opening hours and transferring library staff, so customers will still receive the same great service from the same friendly faces."

Telford & Wrekin councillor Shirley Reynolds, who has responsibility for libraries, said the borough and town councils knew the importance of local libraries, and had worked together using a model that had proved successful elsewhere.

Six other libraries in the borough are already being run in partnership with town and parish councils, with just two, at Southwater and Oakengates, still run by Telford & Wrekin.

Councillor Zona Hannington, the authority's cabinet member for finance, governance and customer services, said innovative partnerships could continue to keep community resources open and accessible at a time when local government budgets faced considerable pressure.

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