Last year, the council announced plans to move the library from Mostyn Street, its home for more than a century, to Venue Cymru on the town’s promenade.
The plans have been slammed by many residents, with councillors Louise Emery and Harry Saville also against the proposal.
Volunteers from Friends of Mostyn Street. (Image: Gini Rivers)A consultation was launched in September 2024, with the results of the consultation only made public this week – just days before a Conwy council cross-party committee scrutinises the decision.
More than 1,800 people have also signed a petition against the plans.
Conwy County Borough Council’s report this week recommended the move to Venue Cymru.
But residents are not giving up the fight, with community group Friends of Mostyn Street (FOMS) and other partners to protest outside the library between 12pm and 1pm tomorrow.
Gini Rivers, project manager and secretary for FOMS, said that “anybody and everybody across Llandudno has come forward” to support the cause, including families and the elderly.
“It’s strange for us to be in a protest situation, but we’re not being heard - the library and amenities on the high street are integral,” Ms Rivers told the Pioneer.
How the library at Venue Cymru could look. (Image: CCBC)“Mostyn Street has its faults, it’s not a perfect high street but it’s one of the healthiest in North Wales.
“Llandudno is one of the main economic drivers for the whole county, lots of people use Llandudno high street and if it becomes unsustainable and businesses start to pack up and close, then we’re all the weaker for it.
“If we take 100,000 visits to the library a year out of Mostyn Street, that suddenly makes investors think twice.”
The local authority said the move would deliver improved “accessibility and enhanced service for library users”.
Llandudno’s Tourist Information Service would also be relocated to within Venue Cymru to “safeguard this service, at a time when many local authorities are closing their Tourist Information Centre outlets”.
But Ms Rivers and those against the plans say improved accessibility is not guaranteed.
Inside the existing library on Mostyn Street. (Image: NQ)She continued: “There are safe routes to walk into the library, whereas it’s a challenge to get across all the roads safely with pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters [to get to Venue Cymru].
“There is no end of problems with access, and the retail parks won’t thank people for nipping into the library for an hour.
“We are not against the Venue Cymru project – that brings millions of pounds and visitors to the town and we are delighted that it’s here.
“But we can’t move the library and put it into that building.”
Ms Rivers said the move would result in lower footfall on Mostyn Street, and instead called for improvements to be made to the existing library site. “It feels like the aim is to increase footfall and spend within Venue Cymru itself, but you will actually push footfall down in Mostyn Street,” Gini said.
“If we have amenities on Mostyn Street, people have a reason to go.
“Footfall needs to stay hard and fast on Mostyn Street, we don’t want it to move.
“The library isn’t perfect, it could be improved – we know that the foyer area could be converted and made more community focused.
“Ultimately, we want a theatre at Venue Cymru which is well-run and we want a library on Mostyn Street for the community and the high street.
“It’s short term thinking for very little gain.”
The organisers of the protest said there will be 'Save Our Library - Save Our High St' t-shirts, and have asked people to come in book day costumes and as their favourite book characters. https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/25273846.protest-controversial-plans-move-llandudno-library/
What an ugly carbuncle Venue Cymru is
ReplyDelete