2nd February 2012

PORTLAND: Library to close as no agreement can be reached with local groups

PORTLAND Underhill Library is to close at the end of April.

Consultation with community representatives has failed to find any interest among local groups to take over responsibility for running the building from Dorset County Council.

Portland residents will continue to have access to library services at the larger Portland Tophill Library, and plans are being put in place to provide regular mobile library visits as well.

With the library service needing to reduce its annual budget by £800,000, county council members last year agreed to retain 25 libraries and offer up the remaining nine to be managed and maintained by local communities.

However, while talks are talking place over possible transfers to eight of the communities concerned, the lack of interest around Portland Underhill means funding will now be withdrawn and the library will close its doors on April 28th.

Portland Underhill, which is open for 12 hours per week, is the county council library which issues the lowest number of books and other items – a total of 6,722 in 2010-2011, a 12 per cent decline on the previous year.

The building is leased by the council and will revert back to its landlord following the closure.

County head of community services Paul Leivers said: “We are making good progress in our discussions to transfer eight libraries to local community control, but there was no desire to do so in the Portland Underhill area.

“However, local people will still be able to access a library service at either Portland Tophill, Wyke Regis or any other Dorset County Council library. We are also working to ensure that a mobile library will serve the area.

“And for anyone who is unable to use a branch or mobile library due to ill health, disability or frailty, a home library delivery and collection service will be available.”

Those libraries facing possible transfer to the community include Burton Bradstock, Charmouth, Chickerell, Colehill, Corfe Castle, Puddletown, Stalbridge and Wool.

PICTURE: Portland Underhill Library

PORTLAND: Library to close as no agreement can be reached with local groups

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