COUNCILLORS have voted in favour of closing the library that was gifted to the townspeople of Darlington by railway pioneer Edward Pease.

Despite campaigners speaking passionately in favour of the library, and a packed public gallery of objectors, Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and local environment, said “doing nothing is not an option” and that the financial position of the council was “severe”.

The entire Labour group voted in favour of moving library services from Crown Street to the Dolphin Centre. As they did so, one member of the public shouted: “This is a disgrace. This will go down in history.”

Cllr Wallis argued: “We are so close to the point where we are unable to meet our statutory duties to adults and children. The library is unsustainable. One in 12 of people in the town use the library and the others never cross the threshold.

The Northern Echo: OUTLINING VIEWS: Councillor Nick Wallis inside the arts centre

“I notice there is no-one in the public gallery speaking up for those vulnerable children and adults in the borough.”

Cllr Nick Wallis

But Cllr Heather Scott, leader of the opposition Conservative group, said the legal position of the decision was too “risky”, as after the decision a trust will have to be formed to put forward to proposals to the Charity Commission, which could be refused.

The Northern Echo: BACKING PROJECT: Councillor Heather Scott, leader of the Conservative group on Darlington Borough Council

Cllr Heather Scott

Fellow Conservative councillor Ian Galletley added: “I can’t believe it is the Labour party in this town doing this. Yet they are lavishing money in a more elitist building called the theatre, which costs you thirty quid a pop to go in.”

Campaigners spoke passionately at the meeting about losing the library building in Darlington which was gifted to the town more than 130 years ago.

They also raised issues such as the £1.7m cost of relocation, whether any more than £100,000 a year would be saved, and why Darlington Borough Council could overspend by almost £1m on financing costs but needed to save the relatively small amount on the library.

The Northern Echo: Darlington's Library, in Crown Street, pictured in the Edwardian era. Stone Technical Services have provided restoration to some of its iconic features

An historic image of Crown Street Library

After the meeting, a statement from protestors the Friends of Crown Street Library, said: “The councillors who act as trustees of the library have failed in their duty as trustees and we will look to bring them to account for this.

“They cannot ignore their obligations as trustees to act in the best interest of the trust and could be held personally liable for their actions.”

The library will remain open until the Charity Commission approvals the proposals. Cockerton Library will be community-run, and the mobile library service is at an end.