By John Baron
Plans to transform Calverley Mechanics’ Institute into a new village library have been submitted to council planners.
WLD reported last month that Calverley Library was to move in a bid to save Leeds City Council money.
£200,000 plans have been drawn up to relocate the library, which the council says currently has some of the lowest footfall, book borrowing and computer usage figures across the city.
This week a formal planning application has been submitted to the council to change the use of the Mechanics to a library. External alterations including raising the level of the pathway and removal of a section of railings to allow level access to the building; new external lighting and replacement of existing front door with glazed door.
The relocation will include upgraded accessible toilets and redecoration of the library areas to provide a safe and welcoming environment.
A planning statement submitted with the planning application states: “The proposed alterations to the building are minimal, with the proposal to lift the path level to match the internal finished floor level, removing a small section of railing to allow access from the public footpath, and installing a powder coated auto door to all a level access to the building without steps and ramps.”
A public consultation into the future of the existing library in Thornhill Street was launched in April – 70% of respondents were in support of the proposal, with many commenting that the proposed building would be more suitable and have potential to be a more usable community space.
The plans can be viewed in full here.
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