THE long-awaited decision on whether Pershore Library can stay in the town centre is expected to be made tomorrow when Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet meet to discuss its future.

The county council had originally proposed to move the library, in Church Street, to The Civic Centre as it seeks to save £1.8m from the Library and Learning budget over the next three years.

But earlier this month Pershore Town Council announced its intention to buy and refurbish the library from its own budget, effectively taking it off the county council’s hands and nullifying any need to relocate it.

Under the town council’s plans, it would pay £200k for the building and about £500k for the refurbishment works, including a complete overhaul which would see the library also house the town’s visitor information service.

If the town council’s purchase proposal is backed by Cabinet members today, the county council will continue to run a library service from the building and pay the town council £10,000 a year in rent, plus rates of about £10,500 a year for an initial five years.

Coun John Campion, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet member for localism and communities, said: “The Library and Learning service is no different from most county council services in having to make significant savings over the next few years.

“But as with those other services, we are trying to be more creative and innovative in how we go about achieving this and rather than simply cutting and closing services, we are proposing ideas which we hope will maintain a comprehensive library service across the county.”

Town clerk Ann Dobbins said the mood of councillors this week was pensive but also hopeful of getting the decision they, and townsfolk, wanted.

“The town council is really hoping the county council will ratify the recommendation of its officers, and we’re looking forward to working with them to keep the library at the heart of the community, where it belongs,” she said.

For the decision see The Journal’s website at eveshamjournal.co.uk.