Wallasey's library could reopen 'in the next couple of weeks'

Following the decision to close it, neighbours, volunteers, a nearby primary school, a café, and Wallasey councillor Ian Lewis came together to form a new charity that would take the building over and run it for at least the next 25 years. In February this year, they received the keys to the building and have been working on the building since.

The Wallasey Village Library and Community Centre is converting one third of it into the library space, another room into a community space, while a third room will become a dog friendly café. The café will be run by Baked as a branch of their current family run café and bistro at Larton Livery in Frankby with high speed Wi-Fi.

It was hoped the building might reopen over the summer but due to a number of issues with the building, ranging from a leak to heating to getting safety glass fitted, things have taken longer than expected. Asked for an update on the project, Cllr Lewis said they are likely to have an opening date by the end of next week with the place open “in the next couple of weeks.”

He said: “The café is going to be open seven days a week and where we can, based on the volunteers, have the library try and mirror the café hours. That is dependent on whether we can get a decent rota of volunteers.

“We are certainly going to be open five days a week as a library and we are very much looking for volunteers.”

Ray Lyons, whose family used the library for over 40 years, previously told the LDRS: “It’s up to the community to ask what they want in the space and if it’s not there, then ask for it. You will see the library open and the community hub open and the café open and then the rest is up to the people and hopefully open seven days a week. The scope is endless.”

Mr Lyons said the café would help bring in young people, adding: “They need to be able to have an area that they can go to. My children used to come in here and read books and all of that was gone. It’s so important to learn to read books.”

An update on the library, other buildings and golf courses the council decided to try and hand over into community groups came at a tourism, communities, culture, and leisure committee meeting on September 19. One councillor previously criticised the length of time it has taken for some handovers to take place.

Higher Bebington Library has been taken over by the nearby Co-Op Academy and expected to be up and running this month. Woodchurch Library has been handed over to Ganneys Meadow school to support SEND pupils.

Pensby Library is now open as a café, charity shop, and library run by Pioneer People while Prenton Library is due to be taken over by St Stephen’s Church this month. Bromborough Civic Centre is currently in the process of being sold while Hoylake Library is expected to become a new gym.

Woodchurch Leisure Centre, which was controversially earmarked for demolition in November 2023 despite a bid put forward to try and take it over, is due to be taken down later this year. Council officers are currently preparing to find a contractor for demolition.

Three council assets are currently in limbo. A bid to take over Irby library has had to be pushed back due to a spending freeze that’s been introduced by the council as it would have needed £130,000 to support the takeover by a Friends group.

Brackenwood Golf Course is awaiting a business plan to be put forward by October 31. A previous bid had failed after backers for the course’s golf club had pulled out.

Hoylake Golf Course is currently in the process of being taken over by the Royal Liverpool Golf Course on the other side of the town. According to a council report, the R&A are currently working on a business plan but “there are significant costs in the ground due to drainage issues” which are being looked at.

The council are also hoping for a new agreement for future Open Golf Championships. However West Kirby councillor Jenny Johnson called for action to move the bid forward describing the course as “currently in a state of disrepair.”