PACKED public meetings today (Wednesday, March 23) sent a clear message to Darlington Borough Council that residents do not want their beloved libraries sold.

The future of Darlington’s library services was debated at two dedicated consultation meetings on Wednesday evening at the Dolphin Centre and the Cockerton Methodist Church.

Budget proposals from the council could see Cockerton Library and the mobile library service close completely, the historic Crown Street Library shut down and the centralisation of other library resources at the Dolphin Centre.

The authority believes the proposals will save a considerable amount of money and help to provide a sustainable future for library services and the Dolphin Centre.

However, the plans have been met with both heartfelt concern and outrage from townspeople, with sentiment at both meetings overwhelmingly opposed to the proposals.

Councillor Nick Wallis joined council officers in front of the crowds to discuss the plans and answer questions.

At both meetings concerns were raised over Crown Street Library suffering a similar fate to that of the town's Arts Centre, which remained empty for years after falling victim to previous council cuts, becoming vandalised and requiring the presence of on-site security services.

To applause, former councillor Alan McNab said: “I am haunted by what happened to the Arts Centre when that was shut down.

“That was vandalised and it took years to sell it – the same will happen to Crown Street.

“You will cost people money in terms of upkeep and security and this will all add to the deterioration of the town centre.

“It is sensible to keep the library at Crown Street in its historic building.

“The people of Darlington have spoken as one – we do not want the library to move to the Dolphin Centre.”

Cllr Nick Wallis said the authority had no interested buyer for Crown Street as yet but said money had been set aside in the budget to allow for security services in the event it did remain empty for a period.

Ideas raised by audience members to ensure the future of the Crown Street Library included selling it back to the public and moving other services into it to generate income.

Plans to save Cockerton Library centred on a “community-led” option where volunteers and businesses would pull together to reshape it as a meeting hub for the town.

Cllr Wallis stressed that none of the proposals were set in stone.

He said: “This is all a work in progress.

“If you can make community-led options work, I’ll absolutely bite your hand off.”