CONCERNS over the safety of adult learners at the Riverside Centre in Bridge Street has prompted the council to move all lessons to the ground floor after evacuation problems were highlighted during a fire safety inspection.
And from January 2012, the whole set up will move to the second floor of Leighton Buzzard library which was previously the cafe area.
In a letter to Central Bedfordshire councillors, Liz Wade, Assistant Director of economic growth, regeneration and skills at the council said the service has to urgently vacate its current premises due to significant issues relating to the condition of the building and the service must relocate as a matter of priority to ensure continuity of service and avoid disruption of many adult students.
She hoped that relocating this service to the library would create a community learning hub at the library, improving access to adult and community learning provision in Leighton which had previously been challenging.
This week Executive Member for Sustainable Communities Services, Cllr Brian Spurr confirmed the plans. He said: “We have relocated adult community learning classes to the ground floor of the Riverside Centre to ensure the safe evacuation of learners in the event of a fire following a fire safety inspection. The service is continuing to deliver a full range of courses.”
Ms Wade had also told councillors that Central Beds had provided the cafe space free of charge for a number of years and could no longer justify it as they needed the accommodation. She assured that all groups meeting in the space would continue to be able to meet there. Also that there would be a review of the need for refreshments in the library. She said: “Ultimately we wish to maximise the use of the available library space for community use and benefit. Delivering a continued positive future for the library and theatre as a vibrant and busy place for the people of Leighton.”
Not everyone agreed with the council’s closure of the cafe. Mum Tammy Dickerson had campaigned on Facebook to try and stop it’s closure and staff had run a petition in the cafe asking for people’s support. Both protests proved fruitless.