THE town council could consider taking on the running of Launceston’s library service from Cornwall Council, but only if it is ‘in the every best interest of the town’.

Deputy mayor Cllr Dave Gordon, told those gathered at the mayor choosing ceremony and annual meeting in the town hall on Thursday, May 17, that ‘negotiations have started’ about the possible devolution of the library service.

Cllr Gordon said: “In taking on such an important service, it has to be in the very best interest of our town and it has to be affordable to our tax payers.

“We could ultimately see long term investment for our community.”

At the continuation of the town council’s annual meeting last Tuesday, May 22, mayor Cllr Margaret Young said they had recently met with members of Cornwall Council, adding: “That was further talks about the way forward without us committing ourselves to anything yet.

“We are still in conversation and we are finding out more about what they have to offer and what we could do about re-siting the library.”

Cllrs Young, Gordon and Brian Hogan have also met with an independent feasibility officer, and walked around the town, looking at sites where the library could be re-sited or re-built.

Sites they looked at included: the old tax office, the old Sprys site on Exeter Street, the Bakers Arms, the other old Sprys site on Angel Hill, ‘the old Barriball’s shop’ towards St Mary’s Church, the Jobcentre, the White Hart Hotel and the site that is for sale overlooking Westgate flats.

Cllr Young said: “I think he collected quite a lot of information. Nothing will be decided upon until it comes to full council. At the moment it’s just negotiations.”