Plans to temporarily move Rickmansworth library to nearby Three Rivers District Council offices have so far been unsuccessful.

At a district council meeting, leader Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst said they had offered to host the library at their offices in Rickmansworth.

But, he said, the county council – which runs library services – has so far not taken up the offer.

Rickmansworth library closed in April this year after a fire. Initially, the county council said “repairs may take a number of weeks”, but the latest estimate is that it will not be able to reopen until next year.

A planning application was recently submitted to replace the library’s roof. 

Cllr Giles-Medhurst said he “wished there was some progress” in response to a question from Cllr Tom Smith.

Speaking at the meeting last Tuesday, the leader of the council said: “Offers have been made to the county council to accommodate Rickmansworth library within this building where there is spare capacity and to make it available to residents from Rickmansworth.

Rickmansworth Library. (Image: LDR/Christopher Day) “That was made a number of months ago … the county council has not taken that up.

“They did suggest a certain figure … which was not acceptable in terms of the additional cost to this authority.”

He said he had put a new figure to the county council “three weeks plus ago”, but had not yet received a response.

(Image: LDR/Christopher Day) The figure would “cover” the district council’s costs, such as “additional opening hours, additional lighting, additional heating and additional staff costs”.

“It is not to make a profit from the county council in terms of having a library facility available for the people of Rickmansworth,” Cllr Giles-Medhurst added.

He said he had written to the county council’s interim CEO “three times”, and had also spoken to the leader of the county council.

(Image: LDR/Christopher Day) Cllr Giles-Medhurst continued: “In fact, exactly a month ago today I had a response saying the matter would be dealt with within a few days.

“We’re a month later, the library is still closed, it requires a substantial amount of work, and meanwhile the residents of Rickmansworth don’t have access to their library.”

Hertfordshire County Council were contacted for comment.