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Library Closure: Council Rent Hike Forces Volunteer Hub Shut
24 Jul
Summary
- Volunteer-run library closed due to a rent increase from £0 to £5,500.
- High heating costs of £1,000 per month contributed to financial struggles.
- The council cited low visitor numbers and volunteer shortages as issues.
A cherished volunteer-run library, Danesholme Library in Corby, has ceased operations due to a substantial rent increase imposed by North Northamptonshire Council. The library, which transitioned to community management in 2018, previously paid a nominal rent. However, the council recently raised this to £5,500 per year.
Manager Steven Arnold-Cowell expressed that the new rent is unmanageable, exacerbated by high operational costs, including approximately £1,000 monthly for heating. Despite a prior unsuccessful grant application for an upgraded heating system, efforts are underway to secure funding for improvements and potentially re-open the facility.
The council highlighted that the library experienced very low visitor numbers and struggled with volunteer shortages, leading to reduced opening hours. They clarified that the expired lease was honored by the current council, and the new rental agreement reflects a review of costs in line with other community-managed libraries, offered at a significant discount to market rates.
