Mill Road Library saved for community

Posted byCambridge Town OwlPosted inUncategorized

Which is splendid news and contained in meeting papers I didn’t dare read

See item 7 of Cambridgeshire County Council here.

“The centre would operate daily as an inclusive hub for arts, culture, volunteering and social programmes, with partnerships already established with local organisations.”

Above – from BBC Cambridgeshire’s Phil Shepka, 17 June 2026

Which is splendid!

The papers state that the campaign to save Mill Road Library (see here) were the only bidders for the site – with the campaign being associated with the Love Mill Road collective (note they are picking up sponsors too). Therefore having their own premises – and having such a wonderful historic building as those premises, will be a huge asset for them and will hopefully result in more funding and sponsorship coming in.

Above – Mill Road Library (from the west looking eastwards, with Mill Road bridge on the right hand side beyond the photo)

I last wrote about the library building back in late 2024 here as the county council once again tried to dispose of the asset. (While we’re at it, can the old Shire Hall be put back into community use?)

The library building was the result of hard work by Cambridge’s founding borough librarian John Pink, who got the first purpose-built Free Library building built round the back of the Guildhall in 1884, and then the Mill Road Library as the first branch library serving one of the most populous wards in Cambridge – and certainly the one with the most children.

Happy Chap – Cambridge civic titan John Pink, who built up Cambridge’s municipal libraries service from scratch following the enactment of the Libraries Act 1850, authorising local councils to establish public libraries. He did just that for Cambridge in 1854, spending half a century as our borough librarian. Photo from the Cambridgeshire Collection – which Mr Pink also founded for us.

The Library was controversially closed in 1996 by the county council in the face of dreadful cuts from central government that didn’t leave much left for young people. This was an era when the council was under no overall control, with the Liberal Democrats and Labour teaming up to eject the ruling Conservatives.

Above – Cambridge Evening News 08 May 1993

Above – Cambridge Evening News 22 April 1996. Young protesters demand Cambridgeshire County Council re-open the Mill Road Library.

As I wrote in August 2025 here I had hoped that the building could have been used as a base for rebuilding our city’s civic society following the lockdowns. Hence being gutted that the building was put up for sale/long lease again in 2024. With the announcement of local government restructure, I questioned whether any councils should be disposing of major assets on the grounds that a future unitary council may take a different view.

“The vision includes a fully accessible venue incorporating a flexible auditorium with retractable seating, a mixed-use gallery and café space, creative work areas, including a mezzanine, and facilities to support exhibitions, workshops, performances, film screenings, co-working and community outreach.

Above – the Mill Road Library Campaign (scroll down)

The Officer’s Report continues.

“The centre would operate daily as an inclusive hub for

  • arts,
  • culture,
  • volunteering and social programmes

…, with partnerships already established with local organisations including…

Above – Officer’s Report item 7 p4, Assets and Procurement Committee, Cambridgeshire County Council papers 23 June 2026

Which tells us that the bid reads like a sound and comprehensive bid which, along with city council support mentioned in the officer’s report means that it should be approved by councillors.

For those of you who want to get involved, see https://millroadlibrary.com/

If you are interested in the longer term future of Cambridge, and on what happens at the local democracy meetings where decisions are made, feel free to: