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‘Save historic Mill Road library building for the community’




The former library site on Mill Road in Cambridge will be sold on the open market after a children’s counselling charity dropped out of buying it due to the spiralling costs of the project.

Centre 33, which provides support for children and teenagers from offices in Clarendon Street, was chosen as the preferred bidder for the building last year by Cambridgeshire County Council, beating other proposals including one for a community arts centre.

The form Mill Road Old library. Picture: Keith Heppell
The form Mill Road Old library. Picture: Keith Heppell

But after surveys revealed the amount of work needed to be done on the Old Library building, the charity has decided the move is no longer “feasible”.

Now campaigners fear it could fall into the hands of commercial developers rather than being used by the community after a five-year period in which it was designated an an Asset of Community Value has ended.

And a group that wants to turn it into a cinema and arts centre is already planning to put in a bid.

John and Kati Preston, who were involved with one of the previously unsuccessful bids, said it would be “disgraceful” for the council to sell the the historic former library on the open market “as to do so would permanently lose this listed public asset, the only listed building on Mill Road, to the private sector”.

They added that the county council had “allowed the building to get into a state where £500,000 spent on partial repairs was insufficient to bring the building back into use as claimed, instead leaving an empty, unheated and damp shell”.

Mill Road Old library. Picture: Keith Heppell
Mill Road Old library. Picture: Keith Heppell

Without heating or electricity supply, the work needed on the building proved too much for Centre 33, which provides help for those up to 25 with mental health, caring responsibilities, housing and sexual health.

A statement from Centre 33 said: “We have invested careful time and thought into retaining the character of this beautiful building and have worked closely with engineers, planners, surveyors and our wonderful architects MOLE to develop plans and understand costs.

“However, the study has revealed that the level of work needed to ensure the building is fit for purpose has increased the budget beyond our original bid and it is no longer a feasible option for Centre 33.”

Previously, campaigners had come together to require the council to sell the listed building to groups with a community focus, rather than developers, by applying for it to be declared an Asset of Community Value. But that designation has lapsed and cannot be reinstated until after February 6, giving the county council a chance to sell the building to the highest bidder.

The council has confirmed it will now sell the former library on the open market.

However, a Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “We are, of course, disappointed that Centre 33 will not be continuing with the purchase of the former library site on Mill Road. The charity does fantastic work for young people and we were delighted to name them as our preferred bidder back in April.

“Our officers have worked closely with Centre 33 over past months to try to ensure this community use for the building, as the charity sought a viable redevelopment plan.

“Given Centre 33’s position, from January we will again invite applications to find a future guardian for the site. The former library is a special building and its sale created a lot of interest with 8 bids received. As before, councillors will consider not just the economic factors but also the social and environmental aspects of all applications we receive.”

One of the previous eight bids from community groups hoping to purchase the grade II-listed building was from a group of volunteers who wanted to turn it into a cinema and arts centre.

Matthew Webb, who led that bid, said: “We will be putting our bid forward again. We have already held a meeting this week and volunteers are as keen as ever to take this forward. This is a magnificent building which holds a lot of special memories for people on Mill Road and rather than turning it into flats, this could be an opportunity to do something for the community. We have backers who would help turn it into a cinema and arts event space, something that is much needed in the area.We are hoping the county council would work with us to apply for heritage grants to bring this historic building back into community use.”

Anyone who would like to join the campaign to turn the former library into an arts centre can visit millroadlibrary.com to find out more.



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