£4m repairs bill could force central library move (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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£4m repairs bill could force central library move
8:30am Thursday 27th October 2011 in News
By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter
Bradford's Central Library which may be moved to new premises
Bradford Council has admitted it may have to relocate the city’s central library after investigations revealed it will cost £4 million of taxpayers’ money to make the current building safe.
Earlier this month, the Telegraph & Argus exclusively revealed that the eight-floor building had been forced to close after being identified as a serious fire risk.
The ground floor and first floor are now open to the public after the staircase on those floors was fire-protected.
But emergency work still has to be done to make the whole of the central staircase safe because, in its current state, it would act as a chimney if there was a fire.
Work to make the whole building fit for purpose was initially estimated at hundreds of thousands of pounds, but further investigations have found that it will cost an estimated £2 million for backlog maintenance work and £2 million for the fire improvements.
An external fire escape needs erecting, the whole building needs re-wiring, the roof needs replacing as well as work on the internal staircase.
The remaining six floors, housing the district’s archive and meeting rooms, will stay closed until Bradford Council officers decide what is the most cost-effective way of delivering the city centre library services, including whether to carry out the essential work.
Councillor David Green, the Council’s executive member responsible for culture, said that all options needed to be looked at.
“The situation is that the library is certainly open and continues to provide services in the medium term which is 18 months to two years,” he said.
“But given the cost of the repairs, apart from the fact we haven’t got £4 million, we have to look at alternative options to continue the provision of the library and archive service in Bradford city centre.
“We may look at alternative accommodation and have asked officers to go and look at some options.
“If we can do that for a reasonable and sensible sum of money in a building that is accessible to the public, we will look at that.”
At the moment there is no access to the public toilets and disabled access is also limited. Two days’ notice has to be given if anyone wants an item from the archives.
Coun Green said that the building could be sold off to a private sector company which could afford to do the improvements and use it as an office development.
Comments(26)
A650
says...
9:11am Thu 27 Oct 11
Many buildings of this era were designed so the staircase would act as a chimney. For instance the Richmond Building at the Uni is built in the same way. It has vents at the top to let smoke out. Each floor has doors that date back to when it was built in the 60s, like the library. It doesn't need expensive remedial work so why does the library?
External staircase? Again the Richmond Building (12 floors) doesn't have one.
Now we here about re-wiring and roofing too.
I smell a rat.
futurethinking
says...
9:28am Thu 27 Oct 11
A650 wrote:Absolutely. Smells like ConDem cuts to public services. 'Lets close libraries; the internet will compensate.' So we end up with an illiterate university town.
I can understand people suspecting a conspiracy here. I'm wondering if many of these works actually need doing and whether it's a smokescreen for just shutting the place and making savings.
Many buildings of this era were designed so the staircase would act as a chimney. For instance the Richmond Building at the Uni is built in the same way. It has vents at the top to let smoke out. Each floor has doors that date back to when it was built in the 60s, like the library. It doesn't need expensive remedial work so why does the library?
External staircase? Again the Richmond Building (12 floors) doesn't have one.
Now we here about re-wiring and roofing too.
I smell a rat.
markjoe
says...
9:50am Thu 27 Oct 11
futurethinking wrote:I think its merely a case of political points scoring with the council no matter who the party is and its about time it got sorted out. Strange how the council spending is going to be over budget, then this is to close
A650 wrote:Absolutely. Smells like ConDem cuts to public services. 'Lets close libraries; the internet will compensate.' So we end up with an illiterate university town.
I can understand people suspecting a conspiracy here. I'm wondering if many of these works actually need doing and whether it's a smokescreen for just shutting the place and making savings.
Many buildings of this era were designed so the staircase would act as a chimney. For instance the Richmond Building at the Uni is built in the same way. It has vents at the top to let smoke out. Each floor has doors that date back to when it was built in the 60s, like the library. It doesn't need expensive remedial work so why does the library?
External staircase? Again the Richmond Building (12 floors) doesn't have one.
Now we here about re-wiring and roofing too.
I smell a rat.
Mekon
says...
10:07am Thu 27 Oct 11
A650
says...
10:19am Thu 27 Oct 11
There's nothing like joined up thinking is there?
old pecker
says...
10:35am Thu 27 Oct 11
Albion.
says...
10:54am Thu 27 Oct 11
..
Joedavid
says...
11:03am Thu 27 Oct 11
angry bradfordian
says...
11:18am Thu 27 Oct 11
Why do these councillors seem to think that the private sector have a bottomless pit of money when it fact, they generally have much more stringent policies on spending money (banks excluded obviously!) They have shareholders to answer to, rather than councils who seem to spend what they want or money that isn't theirs.
Beckster55
says...
11:28am Thu 27 Oct 11
littlemeghall
says...
11:31am Thu 27 Oct 11
Joedavid
says...
11:43am Thu 27 Oct 11
Beckster55 wrote:Trying to distroy itself, think it might allready have done that.
Disgraceful. Is Bradford trying to destroy itself? Every other town in the area has a decent library. Halifax, Huddersfield, Leeds, Harrogate etc. Even Wakefield are having a new one built. This city is rapidly becoming a laughing stock. I have to go to Leeds to drink, shop and now use the library. VERY annoyed
Becoming a laughing stock it certainly is allready.
yorkshiredude
says...
12:09pm Thu 27 Oct 11
Avro
says...
12:31pm Thu 27 Oct 11
yer2002
says...
12:40pm Thu 27 Oct 11
With the beautiful trees and central space the old police station could be a new library similar to the outside look of London's great central library.
The one we have now is 'ugly' to look at, unknown by many Bradfordians and deserves to be recognised.
Uplift the old library with a new fresh and very modern structure.
Of course that would be a great idea if not for obvious financial issues. I merely felt like stating my opinion, thank you.
yorkshiredude
says...
12:59pm Thu 27 Oct 11
yer2002 wrote:I like the police station idea, I think it would work really well with the City Park. But as you say, £££.
I say convert the old central police station into a grand central library with small cafe stalls, tables and benches, newsagents, information stands and other carts or parlours. With the beautiful trees and central space the old police station could be a new library similar to the outside look of London's great central library. The one we have now is 'ugly' to look at, unknown by many Bradfordians and deserves to be recognised. Uplift the old library with a new fresh and very modern structure. Of course that would be a great idea if not for obvious financial issues. I merely felt like stating my opinion, thank you.
That said, I like the library building! I am probably in a minority.
djalbertfreeman
says...
3:43pm Thu 27 Oct 11
djalbertfreeman
says...
3:56pm Thu 27 Oct 11
NCC.1701A
says...
6:18pm Thu 27 Oct 11
.
Another brilliant advert for Bradford to be proud of - another nail in Bradford's coffin.
Mekon
says...
9:33pm Thu 27 Oct 11
Lockjaw
says...
9:44am Fri 28 Oct 11
Wutheringon
says...
11:18am Fri 28 Oct 11
Wutheringon
says...
11:27am Fri 28 Oct 11
Yorkshire Lass
says...
8:25am Sat 29 Oct 11
Wutheringon wrote:Nowt new there then. Maybe there is a need for another hotel? Why do the councils' in Bradford neglect these buildings when actually they have functioned pretty well for the last 40/50 years, so during this time it is obvious that some serious updating would be needed. They wait until they think that a catastrophe could happen and then see how much money they can procure from the central Government, easy option. £4m overspend of the city park is a scandal but I suspect not one person will be held to account. Probably caused by the weather and EDL! The citizens of Bradford are treat like they don't have a brain between them when clearly they have. The council should get in the real world once in a while.
I had the misfortune to work in this building until the chance to escape earlier this year, and was the Unison Safety Rep, and I can tell you that this building has been seriously neglected for DECADES! As have the staff! Unison carry out H&S Inspections but our recommendations were often put on one side due to 'lack of money'. This despite the fact that the lighting in staff areas, heating, ventilation, workstations etc. etc. often failed to compy with basic H&S legislation. The welfare of staff has never been a priority and the prevailing attitude is one of 'put up & shut up'! This, in my opinion, is one reason why this building has been allowed to get into this disgraceful state.
Reality001
says...
1:11am Sun 30 Oct 11
A650 wrote:Well it was a Tory led Council that brought you the City Park, at what appears to be the cost of carrying out repairs to council owned buildings.
Great that they're thinking of closing the central library when across the road there's a the new square and lake opening.
There's nothing like joined up thinking is there?
futurethinking says...
9:10am Thu 27 Oct 11
Surely the council must have some funding to maintain this city's centre of knowledge? What will happen to the archives if they relocate? Looks like another abandoned building will be on our hands. Seriously, £4 million? That's not a lot of money these days to renovated and keep a building of this size operational.
Some incompetent **** has let this building become this way in the first place through neglect. Someone needs a sacking.