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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Jacob Farr

Midlothian residents raging as rundown library left with buckets catching leaks

Midlothian residents are raging at the state of their community library with one person claiming “deliberate neglect” by their local authority.

Pictures shared with Edinburgh Live show Newtongrange library looking run down with a tired looking facade and leaking skylight. Discoloured wood that appears to be rotting away can be seen in the pictures as can buckets catching water from a leaking roof close to the library's computer section. A broken window is also shown in images.

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A local resident who lives close to the library, but wishes to remain anonymous, has claimed that they have not seen Midlothian council paint the facade for 25 years. They add that they believe that the council are choosing not to fix up the building in the hope that they can close it at a later date.

They said: “Newtongrange Library vandalism. With the vandals being Midlothian council. The chairs in the picture are around a cluster of buckets to catch leaks from the skylight.

“I've lived here 25 years. The council has not sent anyone to paint that peeling woodwork the whole time. The only explanation I can think of is deliberate neglect. They want the building to collapse so they can close it.”

The head of the chartered institute of library and information professionals in Scotland , Sean McNamara, has said that although he accepts that budgets are tight in the current climate, the council has a legal obligation to maintain local services.

He said: "Providing libraries that meet the needs of communities is a legal duty for councils. We believe this includes good quality resources, trained staff and buildings that are maintained to a high standard to ensure they are welcoming and comfortable spaces.

“Local libraries are vital in providing access for residents to books, resources and IT, improving health and wellbeing, reducing social isolation and much more and are often the only free to use space in a community, something ever more essential in a cost of living crisis.

“We recognise budgets are tight but if residents feel the building is in urgent need or repair then we would urge the council to listen and take action."

Ali Bowden, the director of Edinburgh UNESCO city of literature trust, who predominantly deals with libraries in the capital, also added: “Libraries are absolutely vital to our UNESCO city of literature designation. People have missed physical library services over the last two years when they’ve been unavailable, so it’s now more important than ever that we as a country push for their continued funding and support.

“Libraries do so much more than lend books – they’re social spaces at the heart of our communities, and they provide services for everyone from babies to the elderly. It’s so important that they continue to provide free entertainment, education and social connection.”

A spokesperson for Midlothian council said that they are committed to the upkeep of the library and are looking at options to invest in Newtongrange.

They said: “The library has a flat roof and currently requires ongoing annual repair and maintenance to address ongoing water ingress and other issues in the building.

“We are aware that there is strong community support for the continued provision of library services within Newtongrange and the council continues to redesign service delivery, for example we have worked with Royal Mail to provide a Post Office outreach, and there are options being considered to invest in a library at Newtongrange to provide a multi-use community space.”

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