Rutland County Council is proposing a consultation period for local residents to share their views on the future of Ryhall Library as part of a consultation process to ensure a library service continues in the area. This follows a review of the library building’s condition alongside plans to improve all four of Rutland’s libraries.
During the planning stage, it became clear that the required works to bring Ryhall Library up to the necessary standards would exceed the available funding for the site. Regrettably, there is no additional funding available to meet the cost of these improvements. As a result, the Council will now ask Cabinet to approve the recommendation to enter into a public consultation period to explore alternative options for providing library services in Rhyall.
"We understand how important Ryhall Library is to the local community, and we are committed to finding a solution that ensures library services continue to be available to residents. This consultation period will give local people the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas on how we can best move forward, while also working to secure the future of the library service in the Ryhall area."
Councillor Christine Wise, Cabinet Member for Transport, Environment and Communities at Rutland County Council
Rutland County Council’s Cabinet will meet on Tuesday 14 January. If the proposal is approved by Cabinet, the Council would then inform the DCMS Libraries team about our plans. There would then be a consultation with local communities to assess their needs and consider different options for how a library service could be delivered. The Council emphasises that a consultation will take place to seek the view on how a library service can be delivered in the Ryhall community, not on keeping the current building open or closing it.
A second consultation would take place before any changes were made. The process would also include working with local communities and partners to find new solutions, drawing on successful examples from elsewhere.
