THE FUTURE of library services in Peacehaven will be safeguarded after county planners gave the go ahead for a new temporary home.

Approval of an application today to change the use of the Joff Youth Centre will allow the creation of a temporary library ahead of the proposed redevelopment of its current home.

Cllr Claire Dowling, county council lead member, said: “Approval from the planning committee to use part of the Joff Centre to create a temporary library means we can move forward and ensure there is no gap in the provision of services in the town.

“The Joff is very close to the current library, easy for library customers to access and is well served by public transport links. The new library space within the youth centre will be completely refurbished with new computers provided and new book stock to reflect customer needs. The full range of services available in the current library will continue to be offered.”

Temporarily relocating the library will have no impact on the delivery of the current programme of activities delivered at the Joff. The county council’s library service and children’s services teams will work together to develop a range of new activities to be offered from the Joff, including wellbeing and storytelling workshops.

It’s hoped that offering additional activities will help to attract a wider cross section of the community to the library.

The library service team continues to work closely with Peacehaven and Telscombe town councils and Meridian Centre developers to identify an appropriate and permanent site for the library.

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