Councillor slams plans to move Earby Library (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)
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Councillor slams plans to move Earby Library
7:10pm Monday 15th August 2011 in News
PLANS to move Earby library have been slammed as 'despicable' by a borough councillor.
A proposal to move Earby’s library, in Coronation Hall, Cemetery Road, into the New Road youth and community centre is being looked at.
County council bosses have confirmed that cuts at the youth centre will begin to bite this month.
And there has also been unease after it was confirmed that the police office, in Victoria Road, will not now reopen.
Commenting on the library proposals, county council leader Coun Geoff Driver said: “We are assessing proposals to relocate it in the community centre on New Road.
“The library’s current accommodation in the Coronation Hall is both unsuitable and inconvenient, as it is some 10 minutes’ walk from the centre of Earby.”
He has also confirmed that, as expected, youth services will be reduced at New Road over the coming months.
But the senior youth club will still meet once weekly, as per the current arrangements.
The responsibility for running the centre will pass from the county youth service to the authority's property group from the start of next month - and talks are planned with current users about its future management.
Coun Driver has insisted that the county council remains committed to maintaining the New Road centre as a base for community activities.
Reductions are planned, starting this month, in after-school club provisions for young people, school-based sessions and boys and girls junior youth sessions, said Coun Driver, with staff taking voluntary redundancy and redeployment. The junior section will cease by November.
Pendle borough councillor David Whipp, at a recent West Craven area committee meeting, accused the Tory-led county council of 'taking decisions shrouded in secrecy'.
“That building (Coronation Hall) is packed full of books. To close the library and replace it with a few shelves in a new location is despicable,” he said.
“It’s a massive con on the people of Earby and West Craven. For goodness sake, don’t allow it happen.”
The police desks in Earby and Brierfield will close as part of a countywide police restructure. The Earby office had been closed for several weeks already.
Pendlesider says...
9:06pm Tue 16 Aug 11
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no it isn't? If it's unsuitable why was it put there years ago and nobody said anything until now? the current location off cemetary lane is nowhere near 10 minutes walk to the centre. shows how much the likes of Geoff Driver know about places like Earby.
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I remind Geoff Driver it was only a short while ago LCC implemented the scheme where library users can borrow AND return library items to ANY library in Lancashire (LINNET).
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We've used Earby library and we live nowhere near the place. It's ideally located, quiet where users can even sit outside and read. well said Councillor whipp, don't let some noggin 30 miles away at county hall reduce Earby library to a few shelves in a back room of a community hall. this historic building is well used, well stocked, and well loved by all. don't let the numpties relocate it just to save a few pence!