Morpeth library may be demolished

Oct 16 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

THE main public library in Northumberland might have to be demolished and rebuilt because of the extent of the damage caused when it was engulfed by floodwaters last month.

An estimated 30,000 pieces of stock – including books, CDs, DVDs, videos and virtually the entire children’s section – were destroyed when Morpeth Central Library was devastated by flooding from nearby River Wansbeck on September 6.

The total damage was estimated at more than £500,000 – and yesterday the county council admitted that the two-storey 1970s building might have to be knocked down and replaced.

It also emerged that the town’s Gas House Lane health centre – which houses a 5,000-patient GP practice and other services – might not reopen following the flood damage.

Doubts over the future of the two facilities come as about 30 public buildings, shops, pubs and other commercial premises in Morpeth town centre remain closed to visitors and customers, almost six weeks after the flooding.

As well as the library and health centre, the town’s ambulance station, Riverside Leisure Centre and historic Chantry building, which houses the tourist information office, a craft centre and the Bagpipe Museum, remain out of action.

The Riverside Home Care Centre is still shut, with its elderly residents moved to other homes, along with the local branch of Barclays Bank and town-centre pubs the Old Red Bull and Chambers.

Workmen and contractors are inside many of the closed shops and businesses, repairing flood-damaged floors, walls and fittings in a bid to get them reopened to customers as quickly as possible.

Notices posted on the premises say some businesses will be remain closed for months, while others are hoping to be open again within the next few weeks.

Experts working for the county council are assessing the situation and looking at the most cost-effective solution for the future of library services in Morpeth.

The situation has been complicated by the fact that the library could be relocated as part of a longer-term scheme to give Morpeth a brand new NHS facility – to replace some services at the town’s Cottage Hospital – and local authority customer services centre. A decision is likely to be made soon on whether to refurbish and repair the flood-damaged building, flatten it and build a replacement or wait and develop a new library as part of the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust project.

Morpeth Library is the administrative hub of the county’s public library service, housing the Northern Poetry Library, other important collections, a major reference department and a large computer section allowing public access to the internet.

It has been closed since the flooding, with a mobile library van providing a much-reduced service for book lovers and library users in the town. Firefighters who dealt with the immediate aftermath of the flooding were convinced the building would have to be demolished and yesterday Marguerite Gracey, Northumberland’s head of libraries, said that was one of the options being considered.

“At this stage the damage to Morpeth Library is considerable. The lift in the building needs to be replaced and that in itself is a considerable cost. We are looking at all options and trying to work out the most cost-effective way forward.

“Demolition has not been ruled out and we are also looking at longer-term options, because the current building was not fit for purpose even before the flooding. There is now the option of including it in a new NHS and customer service centre proposed in the town.

“This is an important library which had some 65,000 items and was used by between 450 and 500 people a day, so we need to get a sensible solution for the town.”

The GP practice based in the Gas House Lane health centre has been moved to Morpeth Cottage Hospital since the flooding.

Yesterday a Northumberland Care Trust spokeswoman said: “We are still inspecting the health centre building to decide whether it can be refurbished and brought back into use or not. Patients will be informed as soon as a decision is made.”

Castle Morpeth Council spokeswoman Carolyn Reynolds said it was hoped the Riverside Leisure Centre would reopen in early spring next year.

Because the Chantry is an historic heritage building, its reopening is likely to be delayed until after Easter.

“In the meantime, some of the 65 Chantry traders, as well as the tourist information centre, are operating out of the town hall, ” she added.

“Arrangements are being made for the secure storage of the Bagpipe Museum artefacts, many of which are irreplaceable.”

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