Plan to move library to bigger premises

By nle marie

Book lovers may have to go to a new location for their next literary fix, as plans are afoot to move Dorking's library.

The district's book collection has been housed in Pippbrook House since around 1984.

But now plans are being suggested to move it from the listed Victorian Gothic-style building to three empty units in St Martin's Walk.

Cllr Tim Hall, Surrey County Council cabinet member for corporate services, said: "The county council is looking for a bigger library for Dorking because it hasn't got a big enough library for the size of the population.

"The county council has a long-term plan for the library to make it more accessible from the High Street.

"The problem with a listed building is it's hard to make the disabled access better.

"We are in negotiations and money is in the budget for a move in the current financial year – so hopefully we will have a modern fitted-out library within the year."

However, when the Advertiser asked some library users what they thought about moving the resource from the iconic building to middle of the shopping area, reactions were mixed.

Jasmine Wilson, 65, from Ashcombe Road, Dorking, uses the library about once every two weeks. She said: "It is in a good spot at the moment because you don't have to pay for parking.

"If you had to pay for parking it could end up costing about £3 per book, in which case you may as well buy it off Amazon."

John Moss, 72, from Westcott, also has concerns about the parking.

He said: "At least here you have some outside parking. If they are going to move it to St Martin's perhaps they could reserve spaces for library users.

"I do think it would be a retrograde step.

"I don't think St Martin's would be as nice a place to visit as here.

"I think moving it will just exacerbate the current parking problem."

But some people can see the positives of the move. Dad-of-two Kevin Shroud, 45, from Dorking, uses the library about once a month.

He said: "I like the current building from an aesthetic point of view.

"But it might make it more accessible if it is more central to the town.

"It is a shame because it is such a nice building."

A spokesman for Mole Valley District Council said: "We have no current plans for Pippbrook House and will consider its options if the property becomes vacant.

"The possible use of the entire Pippbrook site will be considered as part of the Area Action Plan."