Council seeks views on future of library services in Winnersh

Wokingham Borough Council has today launched a public consultation on the future of library services in Winnersh. 

The library is currently located within The Forest School and operates with limited opening hours, so it does not affect the pupils’ school day. 

Sharing facilities with the school presents several challenges, which limit community access to the library. 

The Forest School has recently become a co-educational school and will be growing over the next few years. 

This means that additional space is needed to meet the needs of students. Therefore, the location of the current library is not suitable long-term for public library services. 

The council’s financial position

The council, like many local authorities, is operating under significant financial pressures and is potentially facing millions of pounds of cuts phased in over the next three years. 

This comes after years in which Wokingham Borough Council has been the lowest, or one of the lowest, funded unitary councils in the country.

Wokingham Borough Council, Winnersh Parish Council and The Forest School have been working together to come up with options for future library services in Winnersh that could meet the needs of both pupils and the wider community. 

They looked for solutions that were both affordable and achievable. The council is now consulting on their suggestions.

Winnersh Parish Council has just received planning permission to reconfigure its building space. 

Once the works are complete, it would be able to accommodate a public library at the Winnersh Community Centre, about a mile from the existing library. The needs of the school would continue to be met on the school site.

The borough council is proposing that a new library at Winnersh Community Centre could be similar to the self service library at the School Green Centre in Shinfield. 

It would be able to have longer opening hours than the present library for people to borrow and return books.

Options

There are two options for library services in Winnersh following the closure of the existing library. 

The first option would be to wait to open the new permanent library in the Winnersh Community Centre when the parish council’s construction work is complete, which is likely to be within six to 12 months. This would leave Winnersh without library facilities for a temporary period.

The second option would include a temporary library at the Rainbow Community and Children’s Centre, while the construction work at the Winnersh Community Centre is ongoing. 

The library would then move to the Winnersh Community Centre when the work is complete.

The alternative to these two options is that the current library closes without providing a replacement. 

There are new and improved libraries located in Wokingham and Twyford, which Winnersh residents can visit. 

The Wokingham Library has a wider choice due to its size and is a four-minute train ride followed by about a 10 minute walk, or a three mile drive.

These are the three options that the council is consulting on.

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Winnersh Library consultation

Executive member for resident services, inclusion and fighting poverty Cllr Rachel Bishop Firth said: "Wokingham Borough Council understands the importance of library services to our residents. Changes in library provision are always sensitive and we will consult before any decision is made on next steps for library provision in Winnersh.

"The needs of library users and of pupils at The Forest School will be the focus in decision making.

"The school has been a wonderful partner for the library for many years, and I want to thank them for this. Now that the school is expanding, it’s time for us to use that space for the full benefit of their students.

"Public libraries are an important part of our communities and mean so much to our residents. 

"During this consultation, we are interested in hearing from all Winnersh residents, especially those who will be impacted by any changes in local library provision."

The council invites all residents to take part in the consultation and share their views. 

Feedback will be carefully considered before a final decision is made. Further details including how to respond to the consultation can be found on the Engage Wokingham Borough platform.