News / bristol city council
Central Library could move as part of council cuts
Moving Bristol Central Library to another “central location” is included among the ideas in a new consultation which will likely result in sweeping council cuts.
It is part of a proposal that would see a major reduction in the money that Bristol City Council spends on the library service.
Further proposals include working the communities “to design the wider offer”, which in total hopes to save the council £1.4m
is needed now More than ever
Central Library’s reading room – photo: Martin Booth
Central Library on College Green was designed in 1906 by Charles Holden, replacing the city’s original library on King Street (now Cathay Rendezvous).
Historic England describe Central Library as “a supreme example of Edwardian Free Style, which in its bold rationalist design was to have great influence in shaping the work of other architects in the vanguard of architectural development”.
The news that the library may move comes seven years after Cathedral Primary School moved into its two ground floors.
There is already speculation that the school or its neighbouring sister secondary school could now make use of the rest of the library building.
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Former Bristol West MP Stephen Williams is among those who are against the plans to move the library.
On Twitter, he wrote: “Bristol Central Library is already located in the best possible place in the city centre. Moving it would be ludicrous. And remember the Mayor blew approx £40million of Bristol taxpayers’ money on his failed energy company.”
@suziegeewizz tweeted: “Are they seriously going to move the central library?? That absolutely cannot be allowed to happen. That’s just vandalism, theft, a crime.”
The Bristol Room at Central Library includes fittings from our city’s first library on King Street – photo: Martin Booth
Among the other cuts proposed are to “stop, reduce, change or pause” funding to the city’s parks which could save £1.5m, to reduce by half a million pounds the money spent by the mayor’s office and to transfer the management of the Lord Mayor’s Chapel to Bristol Cathedral leading to a £60,000 saving.
The council need to find “a mix of additional income and cost savings” between £37.5m and £87.6m – around nine to 20 per cent of its core budget – over the coming five years.
Cabinet member for finance, Craig Cheney, said: “This consultation sets out the full scale of the challenge we face.
“It makes for uncomfortable reading in places but must be read by also recognising that our proposals are to ensure the budget is balanced and the finances exist to fund the vital work we’re doing.
“That work is supporting the vulnerable and most in need whilst investing in necessary areas of the city economy, infrastructure and facilities.”
To take part in the consultation, visit www.ask.bristol.gov.uk/budget-2023-24
Main photo: Martin Booth
Read next:
- Newspapers to no longer be provided in Bristol libraries
- Criticism of ‘unnecessarily harsh’ Bristol City Council budget cuts
- Primary school for Central Library basement
- New business support hub opens at Central Library
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