Controversy over library move as plans go before county council

PLANS to relocate Dorking's library to the town centre will move a step closer to fruition next week.

Surrey County Council wants to move the library from Pippbrook House to three empty units in St Martin's Walk.

Mole Valley District Council will discuss SCC's planning application to change the use of the units from retail to a library and multi-media centre at its meeting next Wednesday.

Mole Valley District Councillor Stephen Cooksey (Dorking South) is against the change. He said: "The units are in the prime shopping area and I know that there's a history of difficulty in letting units in St Martin's Walk, but when we went through the first stage of consultation what became clear was a need for more retail space in the centre of Dorking. There is a very clear demand from the community for the library to stay put."

Mole Valley District Council has already received five letters of objection to the plans.

One was from Dorking resident Karen Wheatley. She said: "I feel it will be harder for many people to access with messing about with parking and a walk back to their cars, especially for those with children, mobility problems or those who live out of town.

"In my opinion we will be significantly impoverished by a central library."

But Mole Valley MP Sir Paul Beresford is in favour of the move. He said: "I think moving the library to the town centre will increase the usage and make it more attractive to people who might not usually go as well as benefit traders."

Objections can be made until the application goes before the development control committee on Wednesday, August 4.