“I condemn the use of misinformation and scare stories employed by some local members of the Green Party recently when they were conducting a petition to save Lichfield Library” says Michael Fabricant. “I received letters from concerned constituents who were led to believe that the Friary in Lichfield which currently houses the Library is to be demolished and a modern block of flats erected in its footprint. This was never the case.

“The Friary building will cost council taxpayers over £1million to repair water ingress from the roof and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the loss making Heritage Centre in St Mary’s Church in the Market Square was unsustainable.

“So the sale of the Friary with strict obligations to maintain its appearance and repair of the building while moving the Library into St Mary’s so securing both the Library’s and the Heritage Centre’s future is a win win situation. It is a model for imaginative thinking and I was pleased to raise it in Parliament. Credit where credit is due.”

This is what Michael Fabricant said in the House of Commons on Thursday (9th February):-

Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con): What steps the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport is taking to improve access to library services in (a) Staffordshire and (b) England; and if she will make a statement.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr Rob Wilson): The Government are providing support for library authorities throughout England to deliver library services that are accessible and modern, and that meet local needs. That includes a £4 million libraries innovation fund, new wi-fi provision and support for library authorities to explore alternative operating models such as mutuals. I strongly believe that staff should have a stake in the public services they provide.

Michael Fabricant: Lichfield library is situated in a lovely old building, but it would cost more than £1 million to restore it, so Staffordshire County Council decided to move the library into a heritage centre, which will strengthen that centre, and the old library building will be sold and restored. It is a win-win situation. What sort of advice on best practice does the Department give to other county councils? Perhaps Staffordshire County Council could be a model, in this instance at least.

Mr Wilson: I welcome the approach that has been taken by Lichfield library and congratulate Staffordshire County Council on its work. Local authorities need to think imaginatively about how libraries can deliver their priorities, and the ambition document that we recently published through the Libraries Taskforce challenges them to do so. Standing still is really not an option. I encourage local authorities to embrace change and to be bold in finding solutions, as Staffordshire has done.