Bolton council is consulting on plans to move services from a beloved 115-year-old listed building to a new development
Lisa Davenport with her son, nine-year-old Oscar
The planned transfer of Farnworth library into a flagship new development has sparked a fierce debate among townsfolk.
Bolton Council is inviting residents to share their views on the future location of Farnworth library with a proposal to move it to Farnworth Green, closer to the town centre.
The current Farnworth central library on Market Street is a grade II listed ‘Carnegie’ building and was built at the turn of the 20th century.
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It received 41,516 visits from April 2024 to March 2025. The building is a source of great pride for many in Farnworth with residents expressing worries about the future of the building should it become vacant.
Farnworth Green, completed earlier this year, is the town centre’s flagship development of 97 homes and commercial and leisure space.
Bolton Council plans to relocate Farnworth central library
Developer Capital & Centric said recently it is now almost fully-let to residential tenants but commercial space has been slower to fill.
The area for the proposed library in the development has always been earmarked for community use and wouldbe larger than the current library at around 383 sqm, compared to the Market Street building’s 373sqm.
The council said the current library building would be retained by the council and a suitable new tenant would be sought
It said it was ‘committed to exploring all opportunities to keep the building in civic use’.
If approved after a public consultation, the project would start after April 2026, with the library moving within 18 months of that date.
The current library was built in 1910
The council would fund the move and have submitted a bid to the Arts Council England ‘Library Improvement Fund’ to pay for a significant proportion of the costs.The Local Democracy Reporting Service attended a public consultation event on the proposals and also visited the existing library to seek views on the proposals:The proposed new library space on the ground floor of the Farnworth Green complex is set up with artists’ impressions of how a transferred library would look.
People attending are able to explore the space and are asked to fill in feedback forms.
Ann Melmoth, 69, has a special interest having worked in several local libraries before her retirement.
“I started work at Bolton libraries in the 1970s,” she said. “Farnworth’s Carnegie library is a beautiful building and is very important but it’s got a lot of issues structurally which would cost thousands and thousands to put right.
“It’s had issues not just now but for 50 years. “Back then I remember regularly the lead would be stripped off the roof, I think we had 40 buckets collecting the water at one time.
“Money has been spent on it but it’s an old building dating back to 1910. “I don’t know what the plans are for that building but I would imagine somebody would take it on.
“Other Carnegie buildings have been taken over when libraries have come out such as Astley Bridge, which is still in use.
Ann Melmoth is a former library worker
“The other thing about moving the library to this space is this is much more relevant for how libraries are now used.
“It’s not just about books, it’s about community and getting people to meet, it’s about ‘knit and natter’ and the other things people do.
“This location will also have much much more passing footfall, people shopping will go by.”
Lisa Davenport had attended the event with her son, nine-year-old Oscar.
She said: “From what I’ve seen the plans look good. “It’s a more accessible building and is right in the centre of town. We would definitely use the library more often if it was here.
“We’ve just moved into Farnworth Green in the past few months.
“Another benefit would be having a major service in the complex. If this was the library I think it would discourage anti-social behaviour in the square outside as there would be much more people around and visiting.”
About five minutes walk away Jim Elton, 61, was leaving Farnworth’s existing library after borrowing books. He said: “Like others I just dread the loss of this magnificent building.
“There’s nowt much left architecturally that we can take pride of in Farnworth, just this and the old town hall. “I think it’s vital that it keeps its use as a civic building open to the public.
Part fo the space in Farnworth Green where the library could transfer to
“Why not fix the roof and use it as a history museum and archive for Farnworth.
“I’m sure there’s a lot of material not on show to the public that could be put here which could keep alive the history of the place.”
Responding to the library plans on the Farnworth & Kearsley First Facebook page, Shirley Pope, said: “I’ve been to both of the consultations so far and it’s not a consultation.
“It is a process of trying to convince people that the library should move to the new development.”It is a done deal and despite Bolton Council’s promise to ensure our lovely Carnegie building will go to some other community group.
“What will happen is the building will be left empty, be vandalised or wrecked by the elements and fall into disrepair.”
Kathleen Green said: “Keep the library where it is, although I have to walk 10 minutes I’m not bothered – it’s our place, always has been.”
Janette Vine, 66, who was at the consultation event, said she would support the move. “The plans look good. I see it as a positive development for Farnworth.
“Having it here would be more accessible for a lot of people coming into the town centre.”
Jeanette Vine supports the potential library switch
In the consultation documents. Bolton Council said relocating would make the library part of the high street, ‘having a positive impact on economic challenges faced by town centres and unlock the potential for community value’.
It added: “It would help to increase the range of activities within the town centre, such as leisure, community hub and cultural enterprises.
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“It would be a safe communal space that can be used to create a healthier and more cohesive community.”
Coun Nadeem Ayub, Bolton council’s cabinet member for culture, said: “The current library is in a historical building in need of updating. “The plans mean the library will benefit from a new central and accessible location in a modern space with the latest facilities.”