A Carnegie library in Parkhead could be turned into a drama and performance space.
Councillors have agreed to hand over £2.5m to move Parkhead Library from a Grade B-listed building at the corner of Tollcross Road and Helenvale Street into a new East End healthcare hub.
The move will allow a ‘masterplan’ to be drawn up for the redevelopment of Parkhead Cross, which will also include the Grade-B listed ‘The Steamie’, a former washhouse, and a four-storey ex-primary school.
A council officer revealed the authority is in talks with Parkhead Housing Association over the future use of the library building, which is considering opening a “drama and performance space”.
He said the council is “more than confident” it will find sustainable uses for all the buildings.
Councillor Thomas Kerr said: “It is a beautiful building, it’s good to see there’s been discussion with Parkhead Housing Association about where they want to take it.”
Almost 70,000 people visited Parkhead Library last year, however the current building has accessibility issues.
There is also a maintenance backlog estimated at £515,000. Last month, the council approved £450,000 from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Fund for repairs at the library.
Councillor Martha Wardrop said she was concerned the decision to move the library meant “the direction of travel” had changed after the money was allocated.
“Now we’re being told that the money will be used to help with a community asset transfer. It’s not very transparent,” she said.
However, councillor Kenny McLean, city convener for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Public Realm, said: “Whilst Parkhead Library is being moved, the building is not being moved. We see the building continuing to have a use in the community.”
The officer added the Town Centre Fund money “will go a significant way to bringing the building up to a more acceptable standard, given that it’s still got three and a half years of its life to live in that particular building”.
“It won’t be an aborted spend,” he said.
The £40m healthcare hub, at the former Parkhead Hospital site on Salamanca Street, will host a number of services, including GP facilities, pharmacies and dental surgeries. It is planned to open in 2023.
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