A modernised Bletchley library should be renamed the ‘Bletchley Alan Turing library’ according to local councillor Mohammed Khan. 

On September 14 last year Milton Keynes Council allocated £500,000 pounds to secure the future of the highly valued Bletchley Library.

Three months later in January 2016 it was agreed to adopt the ‘Sharing Responsibility for Libraries: more than a Library’. This plan set out a plan to develop a design for a newly configured library in Bletchley using the £500,000 put aside for the library.

Work is due to start on modernising the library, which is in Westfield Road, at the heart of Central Bletchley in early 2017. Local Councillor Mohammed Khan, who was brought up in Central Bletchley and used the library as a child said,

“I am delighted plans have been drawn up to modernise and significantly restructure the existing building to create a refurbished vibrant community library with the addition of two new spaces which will be made available for community use and rent to generate income.”

Building contractors have been appointed and work is due to start on site at the beginning of April 2017. For this work to be undertaken it will be necessary to close Bletchley Library at the end of February 2017 for approximately 6 months. During the building work some alternative library provision will be provided by the Mobile Library Customers will also be sign posted to their nearest alternative library during this period of closure.

Cllr Khan concluded, “I am looking forward to the work starting on the new modernised library. I think the mobile library is a reasonable option for a temporary period. It will mean services are still available whilst the much needed modernising work takes place. Once complete we should relaunch it as the ‘Bletchley Alan Turing Library’ in honour of the most famous mind in Bletchley and it could even be opened by Benedict Cumberbatch who played Alan Turing in the Bletchley based film; ‘The imitation Game’.”