DARLINGTON’S historic library has once again been listed as an asset of community value.

Campaigners battling to save Crown Street Library from impending closure said they were relieved to see its importance recognised with the reinstatement of the asset status.

Under national legislation, the library was designated as an asset of community value in 2013 following a successful application by arts collective Darlington for Culture.

It meant that the group were granted the right to bid for the property should it ever be offered for sale.

However, the status automatically expired at the end of March following a fixed five-year period.

The expiration concerned the Friends of Darlington Library, who then said that the status represented another layer of protection for the building and could be of use in their campaign.

The Friends are among those standing in opposition to proposals to close the library and move the majority of its resources to the nearby Dolphin Centre.

Plans are currently on hold pending the outcome of a judicial review brought against Darlington Borough Council by the campaigners.

Paul Howell, of the Friends, said the group was relieved to have received confirmation of the reinstatement of the library as an asset of community value, adding: “We are delighted as this gives us more options, if we were to need them. We hope it won’t come to that, but it is good to have those options back.”

The result of the judicial review is expected within weeks.