Business to move to library
file pic , exterior, Hunmanby Library, now closed, on Stonegate, Hunmanby. Picture by Andrew Higgins 121144j 15/03/12
Hunmanby Library will not be turned into homes, after a local businessman purchased the building at a public auction in a shock acquisition.
The building had been put for sale by North Yorkshire County Council at a mass property sale at Elland Road on Tuesday February 26.
The Mercury understands that several interested parties were eyeing up the disused building for £92,000.
However, an anonymous local business owner snapped up the site, with what is understood to be intentions to house a pre-existing Hunmanby business.
Cllr Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff was at the auction, and she believes it’s good news for the village, after concerns that a major housing company was planning to demolish the building to build upwards of nine homes on it.
“I’m just pleased that it’s been bought by someone locally,” said Cllr Donohue-Moncrieff.
“There was real worry that a company were planning on putting nine homes on the site, and there was deep concern that there would be more homes being built in the village.”
It’s understood that if the building does house a business, more jobs are unlikely to be created from the move at this stage in time.
The purchase, at £92,000, also raised some eyebrows, and Cllr Donohue-Moncrieff added: “I spoke to a few developers at the auction, and they said that they thought it wouldn’t be this high.
“It may not seem a lot locally, but through industry eyes, I think it’s a quite a lot.”
The news has also thrilled parish councillor and library campaigner Yanina Sheeran.
She was thrilled that the building would be used by a local business.
She said: “To think that there’s going to be an economic return from the building is great, and rather than it lying vacant, the fact that it’s been bought is good news for the village.”
Now that the building has been sold, it marks the end of the chapter for campaigners who valiantly fought to retain the service.
Cllr Donohue-Moncrieff added: “Whether we like it or not, we have to move on. We can’t change anything.”
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Friday 24 May 2013
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