Plans to reduce the opening hours at the library in Whaley Bridge have been put forward. 

Derbyshire County Council, who run the service, have launched a six-week consultation into the proposals to reduce opening hours from 23.5 to 18 hours per week at the facility on Market Street.

Agreed in 2018, the council’s library strategy has seen opening hours revised and plans to transfer 20 of the council’s 45 libraries over to community groups and organisations to contribute to the £1.6 million saving the library service must make. 

As no community group has expressed an interest in running Whaley Bridge Library, DCC is now consulting on bringing its opening hours in line with other libraries in the same position. 

The consultation sets out two options for opening times and days and asks residents to state which one they agree or disagree with. People can also give reasons for their choices and comment in open text boxes on the online consultation form. 

DCC Leader Councillor Barry Lewis said: “Many changes have already been successfully implemented as part of the Libraries for Derbyshire programme and we have worked hard to ensure they have caused minimum disruption to users of the service. 

“This consultation is necessary as we need to bring consistency to opening hours at all our libraries and drive the plans forward, and it is important that people who use Whaley Bridge Library have their say. 

“Our aim remains the same, to ensure we have a thriving library service that suits the people who use it, and reflects the different ways they use it, including embracing new technology. 

“I’ve always said no libraries will close on my watch and we will shortly be relaunching our drive to engage with communities and encourage them to work together with us to ensure the service goes from strength to strength.” 

To take part in the Whaley Bridge Library consultation online, people should go to www.derbyshire.gov.uk/whaleybridgeconsultation. 

Paper copies of the consultation will be available from the library or can be sent by phoning the library on 01629 533354 during its opening hours. 

The consultation closes on Sunday 29 August. 

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