Community urged to unite over plans to take over libary

People are being urged to attend a public meeting to explore the possibility of community ownership of a library.
Malcolm Fallow, Chief Executive of East Durham Trust, which has been awarded £26,058 through the Government's Transition Fund.Malcolm Fallow, Chief Executive of East Durham Trust, which has been awarded £26,058 through the Government's Transition Fund.
Malcolm Fallow, Chief Executive of East Durham Trust, which has been awarded £26,058 through the Government's Transition Fund.

East Durham Trust is leading the investigation following the success of the first meeting looking into the possibility of villagers taking over Blackhall Library.

The trust is urging residents of Blackhall to discuss further the possibility of taking over the facility in the village’s Middle Street.

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Trust bosses say there is no immediate threat to the library service in Blackhall, and East Durham Trust is continuing to look at the potential of the service and/or the building moving into community ownership.

This work is now being supported by the national community organisation Locality and Durham County Council’s Big Ask team.

The idea of the meeting, which will be held on Tuesday, September 8, from 4pm-5pm, will be to deliver feedback on progress to date, including what came from the initial survey/consultation, to consider some of the practical and legal implications and to establish some next steps. The trust says it recognises that the library is much-loved by residents and it is looking at alternative arrangement for providing community services.

Malcolm Fallow, chief executive of East Durham Trust, said: “In today’s current economic climate it makes a lot of sense to have alternative arrangements for delivering local services.

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“We know that the people of Blackhall value their library, we expect this to be confirmed further at the event.”

The next consultation meeting will take place at Blackhall Community Centre, in Hesleden Road.