Following the meeting on Monday 7 July, where it was confirmed that Grimsby Central Library will be temporarily relocated to Freshney Place, Gi Grimsby News spoke with those in attendance to gather their views on the decision.
The update comes amid an ongoing consultation on the future of local libraries and has sparked widespread concern about the long-term prospects for library services.
Council representatives, including Councillor Hayden Dawkins, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy, have repeatedly emphasised that the move is only temporary. However, many remain sceptical that the library will ever return to its original building, which is currently closed due to a leak and asbestos removal.
Helen Knight, who previously worked at a local library, said: “I cannot believe we are going to let our library go, and that’s what it’s feeling like – we will never get our building back. Where are our archives going to be stored, and how are the public going to have access? At the moment, we can’t look at family history anywhere. We had a water leak in 2021, why wasn’t something done at that point?”
Angela Greenfield, of Grimsby and Cleethorpes Civic Society has been led a lengthy campaign to save libraries across the borough.
She said: “Councillor Dawkins is telling the truth about it being a temporary location; but he is not saying whether it is a temporary location until it goes back into the existing building or into House of Fraser, which is what the rumour is. This does not feel like progress because the council are still not saying where the library is going to be.”
Gi Grimsby News also spoke to local politicians after the meeting.
Independent Councillor Paul Henderson remarked: “I’m very disappointed to see that the paper went through and was recommended for approval. From my point of view, the paper was deficient in a number of ways. The process was absolutely loaded towards reinforcing views that we should put a pop-up library in Freshney Place.
“I don’t think it is undemocratic, my day-to-day relationship with officers is very good, but I think there is a lack of real understanding of the strength of feeling around the library and a lack of due diligence in putting the options together.
“Members of the scrutiny committee should have a look at themselves and ask how well they discharged their function today.”
Labour Councillor Matthew Patrick added: “I think this is the best we could hope for because this meeting was specifically supposed to be about the temporary relocation of the library.
“A lot of residents and councillors, like me, had a lot of questions: how long is it going to be in Freshney Place, what budgets are involved, and what will the future service be? This was a chance to hear those views, officers and councillors got a feel of the thoughts on this, and there’s no doubt this will resurface in a different guise at a later date. The call in had to happen. Just by being in the room and having the debate, we did get ourselves the victory.”
Councillor Emma Clough, the local Labour Leader, was present in the audience and vowed to fight on, stating: “It’s the same as what we came in with. No answers to the pop-up library. Asking for a review after 3 months just seems arbitrary. We were keen to stick with Bremerhaven Room in the Town Hall, as before, that would have given more satisfaction that this is genuinely temporary”
She continued: “I feel like we’ve just signed ourselves to another year of worry and campaigning. One of the main advantages of the library building is that it’s a leveller, people can go in there for many, many reasons, and it’s safe.
“Freshney Place is a goldfish bowl. It’s a sensory overload, and I feel we are disadvantaging different groups, certain members of our society unfairly. People don’t just go to a library for books, they go for specific support, and that should be anonymous.”
Roy Horobin
Joined the Gi Grimsby News team in 2025.
Part of the Gi Grimsby News team since 2020.