Update: Ulverston & Roose Libraries

10 March 2024

I spoke with the Director at Westmorland & Furness responsible for libraries on Friday, requesting an update on the plans to restore services at both these sites.

Ulverston Library

There has been plenty of interest in this subject - as you’ll know - since Kings Road library closed in September last year.

The Council has set up two pop-ups in the Coro and Market which have been well used, and I’d like to pay tribute to the amazing staff who have done a remarkable job serving the community in very difficult circumstances.

Despite these pop-ups being in place, people rightly want a return to a full library service, with all the ‘extras’ that King’s Road enabled - reading groups, bike repair, author talks… the list goes on.

Since closure, I have submitted a parliamentary petition on the issue, spoken with DCMS Ministers, and held constituency meetings and surgeries on the subject. I sat down with the Council on Friday, pushing for an update.

The good news is that shortly - very shortly - the pop-up provision will move from two sites, to one: to the Ante Room in the Coro - a much larger space, with the children’s library held in an annex of the Coro too. This will move a full library service to one site, which I’m sure will be a relief.

Meanwhile, work continues on the options appraisal and a public consultation and further updates will soon be issued by the Council on the subject.

We all want this to move quickly and to get a full service up and running, but I believe this will be a positive step - and I will keep pushing for things to move faster.

One final word on this for now: I was reassured by the Council’s commitment to me that they wanted the “same or better” in Ulverston for its library service. That is a very welcome, and something I will work with them to deliver.

Roose Library

Roose Library is in a different position - rather than closing due to electrical faults, the library closed due to arson. Work continues with the insurer and assessors on this, but local residents will be glad to know that we are now ‘weeks rather than months’ away from a pop-up provision opening (very) locally to the existing site.

What has been very clear is that Roose Library serves a very specific community who will not travel to Barrow Library to access the services there. Therefore restoring a full service is necessary.

Again on this, I have spoken to Ministers at DCMS, collected signatures for a parliamentary petition, and continue to work closely with W&F to ensure that a full service will be stood up as soon as is possible. I will continue to push on this.