The Bradley Stoke Journal

Conservative campaigners have welcomed today’s re-opening of Bradley Stoke Library after a five-week closure period, during which the library has been extended by around 60 square metres.

The extension maintains the large open plan design and enables the whole of the rear of the library to be used for children’s services and create a more dedicated space for this age group.

In addition, a staff workroom has been extended to allow more space for storage and office work.

In a joint statement, South Gloucestershire Conservative Councillors for Bradley Stoke John Ashe, Brian Hopkinson, Rob Jones and Sarah Pomfret said:

“In the past, we have had reports from local residents that the children’s area cannot always accommodate the number of families attending pre-school and holiday activities.”

“We have very much taken up these concerns with the council and we are delighted that the work has now been completed.”

“Local residents now have more space in which to enjoy their local library and make use of the important opportunities the facility offers.”

Read on for details of Saturday’s official re-opening ceremony »

Work on an extension to Bradley Stoke Library began last week, just days before the end of the financial year in which the Council promised to make the investment.

Money for the extension was allocated in South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) 2009/2010 budget announced in February 2009 and a planning application was submitted in September.

With the end of the financial year looming, it looked liked the Council was going to renege on its promise, but a press release issued by SGC on 17th March announced that the work had “started this week”.

The size of the extension, which will add just 63sqm to the library’s existing 504sqm, is thought to have initially disappointed local Councillors and library staff but they are now said to be “grateful for what they will get”.

The work will see the library building extended by 3.6m at its south-eastern end, over the grassed area that is partly used as an outdoor play area. It is understood that the new space will be used for pre-school age book stock, leaving the existing children’s section to be used for school age children’s stock.

Library to close for five weeks in June/July

Information on display in the library says that the facility will close for a five week period starting on Monday 7th June, to enable the construction work to be completed. The majority of library services will not be affected in the period leading up to the closure.

A wooden screen, visible from inside the library, has already been erected to protect the existing space while work on the extension progresses.

Liberal Democrat Councillors welcome the expansion

Liberal Democrat Councillors on SGC welcomed the start of the work but also expressed disappointment at the limited size of the extension.

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Plans for an extension of Bradley Stoke Library have been submitted for approval after funding for the project was announced in South Gloucestershire Council’s 2009/2010 budget earlier this year.

Documents supporting the application justify the work on the grounds that Bradley Stoke Library currently provides just 13.7sqm of space per 1,000 residents compared to the value of 30sqm recommended by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

The extra space is said to be needed to expand children’s services – in 2008/2009 51% of the 226,00 books issued were to children.

The proposed work will see the existing library building extended by 3.6m at its south-eastern end, over the grassed area that is partly used as an outdoor play area (see top photo).

The scale of the extension is rather modest as it will add just 63sqm to the existing 504sqm.

Minutes of a recent Library Committee meeting indicate that the new space will be used for pre-school age book stock, leaving the existing children’s section to be used for school age children’s stock. An advantage of this arrangement is said to be that pre-school children will still be able to choose books when holiday activities are taking place.

Building work is expected to take place in December 2009/January 2010.