By Summer 2019, Bath & North East Somerset Council hopes to integrate its One Stop Shop, currently in Manvers Street, into the Podium. But questions from seven different residents to Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting reveal how much uncertainty surrounds the project.

Work is expected to start early in the New Year, and Cabinet Member, Karen Warrington, revealed that there are still two city centre options on the table for a temporary location, or the library could remain open during phased works.

Bath Novel Award founder, Caroline Ambrose, said: “I’m here to call upon the leadership to clarify where, when and how Bath’s public library services will be provided from January 2019.

“For a city with a population of 90,000 residents, Bath is already about to become one of the worst public library services in the country.

“By cutting back to just one library, our city’s public library service is five times below the national level of one public library for every 18,000 residents.

“Bath Central Library’s role in delivering the Council’s legal obligation to provide a comprehensive and efficient public library service has never been more essential.

“The Council has sacked librarians, reduced the opening hours, cut bookstock and replaced almost half the workforce with unpaid volunteers, but despite all of this, residents still use Bath Central Library to the tune of half a million physical visits every year.

“And yet, with just 61 days of 2018 left, the leadership seems to have no plan or clear idea where, when and how people’s needs will be met from January.

“Building works are planned to start in the New Year to turn most of our modest one floor library into an integrated Council Services Hub at a public cost of £3.5 million.”

In written answers, Councillor Warrington, the Cabinet Member for Transformation and Customer Services, said: “Two possible alternative locations have been identified in central Bath in order to allow the library to be decanted, thus minimising the disruption for the works. Both alternative locations are subject to the conclusion of technical reviews and commercial negotiations. If these locations are ultimately deemed unsuitable, the refurbishment works will be undertaken in two phases within the existing library space.”

She said both options had been factored into the plans and residents will be told when it is finalised – but costs could not be broken down due to commercial sensitivity.

A question from Cllr Richard Samuel revealed that the authority paid £2,500 for advice from consultants. Cllr Warrington said it was not about “avoiding public scrutiny” and the plans for the library had gone through three rounds of engagement.

“This was an unavoidable amount of money to make sure the Council is on the right track,” she added. “The final design is predominantly books and hasn’t changed materially from what we have currently.”

Stephen Sumner