Continuing threat to libraries will not deter Bourton bid (From Cotswold Journal)
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Continuing threat to libraries will not deter Bourton bid
9:00am Thursday 24th November 2011 in News
THE chairman of Bourton Parish Council has said the continuing threat hanging over Gloucestershire’s libraries will not deter the authority’s plans to build a community hub.
Following a judicial review at the High Court last week, which ruled planned cuts to the county’s library services as ‘unlawful’, the proposals are now being reconsidered.
The three-day court hearing was brought about by campaigners fighting the proposals to close 11 libraries in Somerset and 10 in Gloucestershire. Under the proposals, Bourton was earmarked to be a library link and have its hours cut to 12 in a bid to cut costs.
However, if the parish council manages to secure the Moore Cottage Site and turn it into a community hub which will include a new library, opening hours are set to double.
Parish Council chairman Bryan Sumner said the new library, which will be staffed alongside volunteers, will be better than the service currently on offer.
He said: “Providing we are successful in turning Moore Cottage Hospital into a community hub then we will be providing a library facility that will be larger and will operate more hours. I don’t see why the library lobby will have any effect on Bourton. What we are offering was for greater services than we have already got.
“I don’t see it can deter us.
They should be extremely pleased with what we are doing rather than making life difficult for us.”
In a statement, Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries said they were delighted with the outcome of the review.
“The judge’s decision to rule in the claimant’s favour on equality grounds is a real vindication of our campaign, which has long argued the removal of public library services from the most disadvantaged, deprived and vulnerable members of our community is grossly unfair.”
However, Councillor Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said the plans could still go ahead.
Comments(3)
johannaa123
says...
2:43pm Thu 24 Nov 11
Many communities were going to be badly effected by the library cuts. If it is true that Bourton can still go ahead then perhaps they could spare a thought for those who also now have the chance to save their service and get a better deal thanks to the judicial review.
Shirley Burnham
says...
3:34pm Thu 24 Nov 11
.
And it is a happy coincidence that only yesterday a Parliamentary Select Committee announced that it is to conduct an inquiry -- to examine whether cuts to libraries are compatible with statutory duties. Such news is important.
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One hopes that the people of Bourton will understand that the matter is not 'only' about Bourton, but that what Mr Sumner perceives as a stumbling block concerns the very survival of your county-wide library service and the well-being of future generations who should be able to rely on it.
johannaa123 says...
2:41pm Thu 24 Nov 11
Many communities were going to be badly effected by the library cuts. If it is true that Bourton can still go ahead then perhaps they could spare a thought for those who also now have the chance to save their service and get a better deal thanks to the judicial review.