THE PEASE family, whose descendants helped to shape Darlington, have criticised its council for library plans they say are causing “a great deal of pain and anguish”.

Relatives of Quaker pioneer Edward Pease, who gave Crown Street Library as a gift to the town, spoke out ahead of a crucial council vote that could see the historic building closed and its resources moved to a leisure centre.

Nigel Pease, who lives in Barnard Castle, wrote to The Northern Echo to express his opposition to the move, planned as part of a £12.5m programme of controversial budget cuts.

He said: “There is strong opposition in the town to this decision and being a direct descendant of Edward Pease, I also oppose strongly this sale and understand covenants have been lost.

“This is a very fine building and over the years it has given the citizens of Darlington great pleasure in both historical and factual matters.

“It would be a great shame if this was taken away from them and replaced with a new library in the Dolphin Centre.

“I sincerely hope this will be resolved and the people of Darlington can enjoy the facilities of the Edward Pease Library in the future.”

Matthew Pease, descended from Edward’s brother Joseph Pease, said the family had held discussions on the matter.

He said: “This is a difficult situation and there is a great deal of pain and anguish being caused.

“The library was a family gift and this feels like a rejection of that gift, it is very sad.”

Mr Pease said early discussions between his family and the council had taken place when the potential of a restrictive covenant on the building was being researched but none since the matter was deemed resolved.

He said: “Nigel lives in County Durham but the rest of us do not live, vote or pay rates there so some may feel this is none of our business.

“But when the library was given to the town, there were two components to the agreement – one was the gift of the building itself, which was a matter for the Peases and not for the town, to choose to give it to them.

“The second was the willingness of the town to accept that gift and to manage and fund it as a library.

“One could say what is happening now is an unravelling of that agreement and if they decide to reverse their decision to accept that gift, then that is a matter for the town.

“On the other hand, what happens to the building then is something the Pease family might reasonably expect to be consulted on.”

Cllr Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and local environment for DBC, said discussions had been held throughout the process, adding: “If any other members of the extended Pease family wish to have their say, of course those views will be taken into consideration.”