Birkdale Community Hub and Library (BCHL) is a registered charity (number 1153611) set up in 2013, following closure of the Birkdale library. In 2015 we identified the former Station Master’s House in the centre of Birkdale village as an ideal location to open a Community Hub and Library for the benefit of the residents of Birkdale and Southport and the surrounding area.
The Station Master’s House will offer different areas for the range of services we wish to provide once we have completed the internal building renovations. The ground floor will be one large room with a reception, computer station, books for adults and a separate area for children’s books and services at the rear.
We aim to to have a fully accessible building, and so a disabled toilet and baby-changing area will be provided in the downstairs area, and a lift to enable access to the upstairs rooms to those with mobility issues.
The upper floor will have three rooms. Two are meeting rooms suitable for a range of activities such as talks, meetings, games, music lessons and interviews, each with access to the internet. The third room will function as a Computer Lounge with computer stations around the room and comfortable seating.
Merseyrail have been very supportive of the project from the start, and when the superior landlord Network Rail became involved they also were keen to see the project completed. It has been agreed that the house could be leased for 15 years at a peppercorn rent.
The level of support for the creation of a new hub and library in Birkdale village has been heartening. When the Station Master’s House in its original state was opened up for a week in July 2017 there were in excess of 300 visitors and over £2000 was raised. All our fund-raising events have been well-supported by the local community. We have a Friends of the Station Masters House group and a thriving 200+Club which has raised over £3,500 towards the building costs. More than 200 local people have volunteered to help with the project as it becomes operational.
We have raised sufficient funds to carry out the internal conversion of the Station Master’s House and are now actively seeking funds for the Computer phase of the project.
