THE future of a town’s library building hangs in the balance after Cumbria County Council suggested it could be handed over to the community.

Millom Library could be the subject of a public consultation ahead of a Community Asset Transfer between the authority and Millom Town Council.

Fears have been raised in the past that the building, in St George’s Terrace, was to close.

And now it has been suggested the building and its running costs could be transferred over to the community.

Millom councillors received a message from the town clerk telling them officers from the county council would be writing to the town council to offer the asset transfer.

Addressing the rumoured proposition, a spokesman for the county council said: “Any proposals to offer the building as a Community Asset Transfer will be subject to consultation with the local community.”

Angela Dixon, the deputy mayor of Millom, said the town council would welcome consultation on the building and make a decision following discussions.

She said: “The library building is very important to the town and is not just a library but a very valuable social space.

“I don’t know what is happening at the moment with but we would obviously have to wait for a consultation with the community before deciding what to do.”

Cllr Dixon suggested the town council would find itself in a bind if it was left with no choice but to take over its running.

She said: “The library building has been neglected by the county council for 30 years.

“It would probably need around £1 million to get it to the standard we want.

“That would mean our hands might be tied and there would be nothing we could do.”

The deputy mayor said it was possible no discussions would take place until after the next council elections in May.

In May 2018, the county council took the step to shoot down talks of a closure amid fears the building would be demolished saying there were “no plans” to do that because it was “well-run” and “well-used”.