Redcar's Laburnum Road Community Library has been serving the residents of East Redcar for 55 years since it opened in 1969. It is THE ONLY PUBLIC BUILDING IN EAST REDCAR. 

In 1969 the immediate catchment area around Laburnum Road and the Ings Farm Estate had, and still has, many bungalows so was an ideal location to cater for retirees and those approaching, and over, pensionable age. Since 1985 the major housing developments of The Ings, The Mickledales, Rowan Garth, Scholar's Park and Wheatlands Chase have been built, adding considerably to the number of families and younger children in East Redcar. 

During the same period, RYE HILLS SECONDARY SCHOOL has been rebuilt with a larger capacity. WHEATLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL has been built, adding to the existing JOHN EMMERSON BATTY, INGS FARM and ZETLAND PRIMARY SCHOOLS. Today the population of East Redcar across the areas of WHEATLANDS, WEST DYKE and ZETLAND has grown to around 15,000. 

In 2016, as a result of Redcar and Cleveland Council budget cuts, it was proposed that the fully functioning Laburnum Road Community Library would close. A public campaign saved the library from closure but the 4.5 days opening was reduced to 2 days (Tuesday/ Wednesday) in April 2017. 

Since 2017, on the days when the library is not staffed by Redcar and Cleveland Library Services, community fundraisers, activities and events for residents of all ages and circumstances have been established. The library is also used for East Redcar Councillor community partnership and surgery meetings. 

In 2024, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER RUN COMMUNITY EVENTS HELD IN LABURNUM ROAD COMMUNITY LIBRARY MATCHES ANY LIBRARY ACROSS REDCAR AND CLEVELAND. 

In 2019 Redcar and Cleveland Council drew up plans to invest in, and expand, the Laburnum Road library and community spaces by integrating the empty first floor flat and ground floor garage.  In 2021, post pandemic, the funding for the library expansion was withdrawn by Redcar and Cleveland Council, though similar publicly funded plans have since progressed elsewhere in other Redcar and Cleveland libraries.  

In 2022, in partnership with Redcar and Cleveland Council, a group of passionate local residents set up THE FRIENDS OF LABURNUM LIBRARY community group to work with the local residents and Redcar and Cleveland Council to help raise the necessary funding for the expansion of Laburnum Road Community Library as per the previous 2019 plans.  

In December 2023, at a Laburnum Library public consultation meeting, and as part of further Redcar and Cleveland Council Library Services budget cuts of £400k, officers confirmed it has been PROPOSED THAT EAST REDCAR’S LABURNUM ROAD COMMUNITY LIBRARY WILL CLOSE IN APRIL 2024, hence THE ONLY PUBLIC BUILDING IN EAST REDCAR WILL CLOSE.  

Redcar residents make up over 25% of the total population of Redcar and Cleveland. The latest proposed Redcar and Cleveland Council library service reductions will leave Redcar with just ONE PUBLIC LIBRARY TO SERVE 36,000 RESIDENTS OF REDCAR. 

The Redcar and Cleveland Council Cabinet are due to meet on March 19 2024 to make the final decisions on the proposed Library Services budget cuts. 

Each of the 7 EAST REDCAR COUNCILLORS SUPPORT THE FRIENDS OF LABURNUM LIBRARY PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FOR REDCAR’S LABURNUM ROAD COMMUNITY LIBRARY TO REMAIN OPEN ‘AS IS’.

We hope you will too, 

Friends of Laburnum Library.

 

PLEASE SIGN OUR PETITION TO SUPPORT:

• LABURNUM ROAD LIBRARY TO REMAIN OPEN ‘AS IS’.
• THE FRIENDS, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND REDCAR AND CLEVELAND COUNCIL  TO CONTINUE TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP.
• THE EXPANSION OF LABURNUM ROAD LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY AREAS.
• THE PROMOTION OF LABURNUM ROAD LIBRARY EVENTS, ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES.