A new chapter? Rotherham's central library could move out of Riverside House

Rotherham Borough Council is considering moving the library from Riverside House to the central markets building opposite Tesco.

A new “community and cultural hub” could be created in the markets complex, the council said.

Views are being sought on the plan until the end of the month, with an online survey launched this week at https://www.rotherham.gov.uk/consultations.

Cllr Sarah Allen, the council’s cabinet member for cleaner, greener communities, said: “Libraries form an integral part of our community and it’s important we make them the best we can for the future.

“During the consultation process on the Cultural Strategy, we received a number of comments from people who said they would make more use of the library if it was in a more central location.

“Local businesses have also told us that they're keen to see more cultural and leisure facilities in the town.

“Moving the Central Library to a new purpose-built hub would enable the council to create a facility which would be home to a variety of services and functions which would benefit the whole community.

“We’re asking people to give us their thoughts and tell us about how often they use the library and which of its services they make use of.

“We’d also like to know about what services aren’t currently offered by the library but which they’d like to see.”