5 replies to this topic

[Eddie]

Protesters have been ejected from a meeting called to agree £1.8m of cuts to the library service in Gloucestershire.
The campaigners were escorted from the council chamber to a cry of "shame on you" as the new proposals were agreed by the county council.
About 12 members of the public attended the cabinet meeting at Shire Hall.
The council will continue to run 31 libraries but seven will lose funding and be run by local communities.
James Beecher, from Stroud Against the Cuts and the main heckler in the meeting, said: "Sixteen thousand people signed a petition against these proposals the first time round, they've barely changed despite all the comments that people have made.
"I'm disgusted with what's happened.
'It can work'
"I'm not prepared to not let my anger out, I'm going to let them know how angry I am."
Also in the new proposals are plans to have nine main libraries open six days a week and 22 local libraries with varied opening hours.
The Conservative-led council has also offered financial support to any community group interested in running a library.
Council leader Mark Hawthorne said: "Eighteen months ago there wasn't a library in Painswick and today there is and that's because of what we put on the table, because the community picked up the challenge, so we know it can work."
A previous council decision to cut £2.6m and stop funding 10 libraries was reversed after it was judged unlawful by the High Court.
Campaigners with the Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries group have said they are considering further legal action.

BBC

[Dennisthemenace]

Sorry to hear that Libraries are closing in Gloucestershire. We when through the same process about 6 years ago here in London. They closed 3 libraries and had the other 6 working a 6 day week. but several communities stepped up and developed a business plan and 2 of the branch libraries reopened and are doing fine. In fact the London Libraries Board adopted the business plan in principle and we have a thriving library system today. Our City Council seem to bring up the fact that working with community groups to run enterprises is the wave of the future in this cash strapped world. The 2 community run branches have increased their membership, run many programs for children at little to no cost to parents, have community BBQ, etc.
Dennisthemenace

[Eddie]

There has been a big fuss here in Gloucestershire about the cuts, but the council have come back with much improved offers. It is good to see the community run ones in your area are doing well, and I see no reason why they can't do just as well here.

[Dennisthemenace]

I am sure they will. If the people who are protesting with such ferver would put that into running or help run a library in their area they would be amazed at the things they could accomplish.
Dennisthemenace

[Eddie]

You are right about that. The campaigning here has been particularly virulent and political in nature.

[Kay Powell]

Lechlade & District Civic Society is very angry at Mark Hawthorne. They didn't like the proposals for a community library in Lechlade, so they put forward their own proposals, which they claim would not cost any more, but were rejected. It is true that Fairford can be reached from Lechlade by bus in 18 minutes, but a return bus is not available for three hours. Fairford residents have agreed to give up some of their library opening hours in order that a council librarian can be available in Lechlade for a few hours per week, making it a partnership library. It sounds reasonable to me, but the council's plans are completely inflexible. Now that Tuffley, Matson and Hester's Way libraries have been saved, it seems to be the libraries in more rural areas that are under threat.

Puzzlingly, some libraries (e.g. Stow-on-the-Wold) are having their opening hours extended, even though the users haven't asked for this.