I HAVE spent many happy hours in Northwich’s Brunner Library. As an adult I decided to go to university part-time while I continued to do a full-time job and it was really handy to have the library almost on my doorstep.

But even back then, 15 or so years ago, it was obvious that the fabric of the building was not in as good a condition as you would have wanted.

And I would also have to question whether a building that was probably state-of-the-art back in the early 1900s was fit for purpose in the 21st century.

Now I’m no expert in historic buildings but it was pretty obvious that at least what was needed was a systematic schedule of maintenance to stop further deterioration and maybe to restore it to its former glory.

Of course, that didn’t happen and the result is the building, gifted to the town by Sir John Brunner, got worse and worse.

Fast forward to summer last year and the rumblings about the future of the library were starting to get increasingly loud.

Perhaps the future of the Grade II listed building wasn’t as a library after all. Maybe it was time to move on. We are, after all, in the digital age and perhaps Northwich would have been better served with a shiny, new town centre library at Barons Quay.

Maybe it was time to look forward and not back.

Personally, I would have gone along with that. Old and historic is not always better than modern and functional. While the Brunner Library is certainly a quaint building, I would have to question whether it’s appropriate for today.

Back in June last year, it very much looked like the iconic Witton Street building was coming to the end of its useful working life as a library.

The Northwich Guardian reported that Cheshire West and Chester Council was looking to spend £2m moving the library to Barons Quay while preparing the Brunner Library building for a new lease of life.

CWAC listed the project as a ‘scheme under development’, meaning it was an option being considered to take place by 2024, but no decision has been made to go ahead with it.

At the time, the Guardian revealed that discussions had taken place between the council and potential new tenants for the Brunner Library, who would be able to provide a ‘culture facility’ at the site.

But, as we now know, all that came to nothing. Instead, the library looks set to stay at its current site and up to £2m will be spent on repairing the building and turning it into a ‘multi-use community space’.

While I’m happy to see the building renovated, I can’t help but think this is not the best of outcomes, not least for library users.

Let’s look at what was originally proposed. We would have had a modern, purpose-built library at Barons Quay while the Brunner building would have been restored, renovated and used as a ‘culture facility’ whatever that means.

Instead, the building will be a library as well as “a community space which will bring activity to the high street. The scheme will bring multiple organisations into one building where they will each benefit from co-locating.”

Excuse me for being a little cynical here but once you fit in the ‘community space’ and the co-located ‘multiple organisations’ I don’t think it’s going to leave much room for actual books.

I could be wrong, I hope I am, but if my experience is anything to go by I would expect a much-diminished library for your £2m. I will be very interested to see how this one turns out.

On a different topic, I notice that train operator Northern is looking for volunteers ‘to adopt stations and devote some of their free time to helping make the platforms and surrounding area look their best’.

Yes, really. Northern wants people to give up their time to do for free what Northern should already be doing.

I can do no better than Guardian reader JOE1987 who posted: “I’ll volunteer but much like Northern trains, I might not bother turning up.”

Interestingly, Handforth Station has one of the most active ‘Friends of’ groups on the whole network. I’d be delighted to find out motivates them.