Drymen’s former library could be about to enter a new chapter – as hotel accommodation.
The neighbouring Winnock Hotel has submitted an application to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners for a change of use of the premises at 12 The Square from Class 10 (public library) to Class 7 (hotel).
The plans would form an extension to the existing hotel.
In documents submitted with the application, agents for the hotel said: “It is proposed that the existing building under ownership of the Winnock Hotel, previously used as a library space, be renovated to provide seven additional bedrooms for the hotel.
“It is acknowledged that above this space there are already guestrooms operated by Winnock Hotel, and whilst used as a library, the space was still owned by the Winnock Hotel.
“It is proposed that guests will check into the hotel as current at the reception in the main building.
“Access for guests to the new rooms will be via one existing doorway to the Square, and a new opening to the west side under the walkway. Two guestrooms will be designated as accessible to add to Winnock Hotel’s current accessible bedroom offering. New openings in the existing façade are necessitated by the proposed arrangement of guestrooms and ensuites within the property. Where new openings have been introduced it is proposed that these windows and doors are constructed to match existing dark timber windows and doors so as not to draw undue attention to the additional rooms.
“No alteration is proposed to existing parking provision to the west of the hotel or to the north on the Square.
The library closed its doors for the final time in July this year at the end of its lease and the villagers have been served by a mobile service while alternatives are explored.
Stirling Council has been given notice to vacate by July 29 despite officers saying “every effort” had been exhausted by the council to come to an agreement on the occupation of the building.
The council had denied it was related to decisions taken in this year’s budget which saw no libraries across Stirling closing in the current financial year and the creation of a library modernisation fund of £100,000 to explore options for future sustainability of the service.
In a report before the council’s community wellbeing and housing committee in May, council officials said: “Drymen Library forms one lower part of a hotel and retail complex in the village, built in the 1970s. Located in the village square, the floor above the ground-floor library houses bedrooms from the adjoining hotel.
“For a number of years, the council’s lease has been with the owners of the Winnock Hotel. The hotel changed hands in 2022 and discussions over the lease were opened with the new owners soon after.”
The report added that the council had been served with a Notice to Quit, giving it three months to vacate the premises by July 29 this year. Flooding issues appeared to have been a stumbling block in the lease negotiations. The library flooded on six occasions over two years, with the library having to decant to the adjoining hotel during one incident in May 2022.
Drymen has a population of 830 people but the library had 1193 registered members and also served some outlying areas. Only 360 were classed as active users having borrowed an item in the past year.
The library had a book stock of 7000 items and three computers available for public use. It also hosted weekly ‘IT and Me’ sessions and coffee clubs, fortnightly Bookbug sessions, and a monthly book group.
Staff at the library were transferred to other roles within the library service when the premises closed.