Council Proposes Cleethorpes Library Merger with Leisure Centre

North East Lincolnshire Council officials have put forward draft proposals suggesting a potential merger of Cleethorpes Library with the local leisure centre. These proposals, slated for consultation next year, are part of a broader review of the council’s library and public archive services. Additionally, the plans encompass the establishment of a skills hub to operate alongside the current library service in Grimsby. Earlier in the year, residents were surveyed regarding their usage of existing facilities and their perspectives on how libraries might integrate with other services moving forward. The council also stated that Waltham is intended to transition into a community library model, which would integrate access to reading materials with various other community-based services. The initial consultation phase received 888 responses, supplemented by input from focus groups and community sessions. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, over half of the respondents who shared an opinion did not support the idea of locating a library within a leisure centre or shopping centre. Conversely, a majority indicated a desire for libraries to offer a wider range of services, including those related to health and wellbeing. Councillor Hayden Dawkins, the portfolio holder for culture and heritage, stated that the proposals, detailed in a report, were formulated based on public feedback and “our assessment of local need”. He further noted that the council aimed to avoid “unnecessarily raising expectations” by refraining from presenting options deemed “simply not achievable” during the second phase of the process. Dawkins explained that the proposed initiatives align with the council’s broader strategy to boost visitor numbers in town centres and leverage the advantages of co-locating various services. He added, “The proposals recognise that these buildings will require significant investment to bring them up to a modern-day standard and to develop vibrant spaces to respond to the changing uses taking place within these services.”