Grimsby Central Library remains closed after a March 28 water leak led to the disturbance of asbestos, with no reopening date confirmed. North East Lincolnshire Council is awaiting detailed assessments on the necessary remediation work, including asbestos removal.
While the site remains off-limits, the council is evaluating multiple town centre locations for a temporary pop-up library to maintain public access to core services. The safe removal of books and archives from the existing building is ongoing.
Meanwhile, a broader public consultation into the future of the borough’s library and archive services continues until 9 July. Proposals under review include merging Cleethorpes Library with Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, converting Waltham Library into a volunteer-led operation, and permanently relocating Grimsby Central Library.
Concerns have been raised during public meetings regarding trust in the consultation process and the future of community assets. However, the council maintains that the consultation is in line with national governance standards and clarifies that the temporary closure of Grimsby Library is unrelated to the current consultation.
Final decisions will depend on the outcome of the consultation and will be subject to business case evaluations and the council’s decision-making protocols.
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