THE latest plans for the future of Darlington’s closure-threatened Crown Street Library are to be discussed by councillors next month.

Council offers are currently preparing a report that will be put before Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet in September.

The report is expected to outline proposals that could shape the future of library services in the town.

Contentious plans to close the historic Crown Street library, move the majority of its resources to the Dolphin Centre and transfer the running of Cockerton Library to volunteers are now on hold following several delays and a judicial review that was recently resolved in the council’s favour.

Ahead of the cabinet meeting, a spokesman for the council said that it was “business as usual” at Crown Street, after campaigners battling to save the facility said there was increased anxiety over its future.

The Friends of Darlington Library spoke after concerns were raised by members of the public in relation to on-going repairs at the library, which have left parts of it inaccessible. A spokeswoman said: “The threat of closure has gone on for two and a half years. Many people already think the library is closed and the long-running repairs and closures exacerbate the anxiety.”

Highlighting statistics that show Darlington’s library use increased in 2015/16, she said the facility was successful in the face of national decline and called on the council again to keep it where it is.

She said: “We desperately need our library to stay where it is and its success and popularity in that building to be enhanced, developed and modernised.

“We call on the council to recognise that it has an important part to play in the town centre as an attraction.”

The council spokesman said: “Following the outcome of the judicial review, officers will produce a report to go to cabinet, for councillors to consider the next steps in relation to the library service. In the meantime, it is very much business as usual at Crown Street Library.”