PLANS to transform a doomed library into an arts centre will “safeguard” the building’s future, an MP has claimed.

Jenny Chapman, MP for Darlington, has unveiled proposals to bring the Forum Music Centre to the town’s Crown Street Library building.

The plans include turning the site of the library into a music venue with capacity for around 350 people, a gallery and café, as well as space for other arts and educational activities.

Ms Chapman said the move would create a “bright” new area.

But last night, critics said the Labour MP’s announcement just weeks before a General Election was a “populist” move to win votes in a seat that is expected to be closely contested with the Conservatives.

Last month, Darlington borough councillors approved proposals to close the Crown Street facility, moving much of its resources to the nearby Dolphin Centre, as well as to axe the mobile library service and hand Cockerton Library over to volunteers.

The entire Labour group voted in favour of moving library services from Crown Street to the Dolphin Centre, with Councillor Nick Wallis, cabinet member for leisure and local environment, saying “doing nothing is not an option” and describing the council’s financial position as “severe”.

Like the Forum, the new Crown Street venue would be run as a not-for-profit community interest company, Ms Chapman said.

The MP also said she hoped a revitalised Forum would recreate the “best elements” of Darlington’s Arts Centre, which was closed in 2012.

Speaking about the initiative, Ms Chapman said: “The whole town was saddened to learn about the proposals to move the library.

“I always wanted to make sure the building remained in community ownership and was open to community use.

Ms Chapman said she was looking at sources of funding for the project and admitted she was relying on grants to get the project moving.

“We will use proceeds from the sales of the existing building, and we will look for support from the heritage lottery fund,” she said.

“We are also working with Darlington Building Society to look at other ways we can refurbish the building.

“There will be grants needed to set it up, but ongoing, we will be relying on people buying tickets and attending the facilities.

“It will be run commercially with no support from the council,” she added.

Anne-Marie Curry, ward councillor for North Road and a strong critic of the plans to close Crown Street Library, said: “The library is a library and it should remain as a library.

“Ms Chapman is going for the populist vote and the building is not suitable for what is being proposed.”

Addressing such claims, Ms Chapman said: “I don’t want the future of the library to be a political football.

“We have been looking in to it for a very long time to find ways in which we can grow the facility.

“The current site can’t be expanded – it is the wrong position.”

Bill Dixon, leader of Darlington Council, said the proposals were a “great idea”.

“We always said the building should remain in community use.

“So far we have only looked at the building’s current use, but this is certainly something we would support.”