Five Warwickshire library buildings earmarked for sale

[dutchman]

Five library buildings have been earmarked to be sold in 2012 in a report by Warwickshire County Council.



The proposals are the latest step in the council's programme to cut £2m from the £7.4m libraries budget over the next three years.

If agreed, Baddesley Ensor, Bedworth Heath, Binley Woods, Kingsbury and Studley library buildings would be sold.

Eleven other libraries could be replaced by community-led services.

The Conservative-run council plans to cease operating 16 of the 34 library buildings it currently operates.

During the consultation process, groups submitted business cases to run the 16 libraries as community-operated services.

The report makes clear that the total bids for capital funding in these were in excess of the funds available.

Of the proposals, Bulkington, Dunchurch, Harbury, Henley-in Arden, Keresley, Kineton and Water Orton are recommended to be replaced with a community-run library in their existing buildings.

Plans are being discussed to provide a community-run library in alternative premises in Bidford-on-Avon, Binley Woods and Camp Hill.

The report's recommendations for replacement services include a community-run library in Baddesley Ensor Village Hall, a self-service library in Bedworth Heath Community Centre, a library within a Community Hub in Hartshill, a joint school and public library in Kingsbury School and a community-run library in Studley Village Hall.

Dordon library will close and could be replaced with a community-run library and dance school in its existing building.

The report will be discussed by councillors on 10 October.

[dutchman]

Warwickshire library service cuts approved

Warwickshire County Council's cabinet has approved cuts to its library service which will see 120 jobs axed.

Two library buildings will close, 18 will continue with reduced hours and 16 will only remain open if run by community groups.

The service needs to save £2m, 30% of its current funding, as its contribution towards the council's savings target of £70m by 2014.

The changes will come into place by the start of April 2012.

The proposals for libraries to be run by community groups are subject to them securing funding by then.

In Baddesley Ensor and Binley Woods, the libraries would close and move into the village hall.

Self-service kiosk

An honesty library would be created in Bedworth Heath and in Bidford on Avon and Bulkington, volunteers could take over the existing library.

In Camp Hill the library could be turned into a business and in Dordon there are plans for a community library and dance school.

Hartshill could become a self-service kiosk in the church hall and Henley-in-Arden library could move into the Guildhall.

Councillor Colin Hayfield, portfolio holder for customers, access and physical assets, said: "People's needs and expectations from libraries are changing and we have to meet these within the constraints of finding the necessary savings.

"We know that libraries are deeply valued within communities. We have worked immensely hard, and will continue to do so, to ensure that communities still have access to the services that make libraries so valued."

Other plans include the library in Dunchurch becoming a self-service kiosk while in Harbury it could move into the village school.

In Keresley, residents are looking for funding to stay in the current building and in Kineton the library will stay in its new premises in the village hall.

Kingsbury library could move into the village school while Studley library will close and probably move into the community centre.

In Water Orton the library would become a community library run from its present site.

Capital of £100,000, alongside other county council funding streams and community grants, has been made available for groups to apply for.

The money will cover installing self-service machines and building modifications so they can begin to operate by next April.

[dutchman]

Labour Lord hits out over closure of Bedworth Heath library

A LABOUR Peer has hit out over the closure of Bedworth Heath library.

Lord Bassam of Brighton expressed shock when he was shown the boarded-up building as he paid a visit to the area at the invitation of borough councillor Danny Aldington and local party chairman Brian Hawkes.

The House of Lords member said: “This closure is a symbol of the damage being done to local communities across Britain.

"Conservative cuts in police, the fire service, old folk’s homes and facilities like local libraries are part of their politically motivated agenda.”

The library was a victim of a Warwickshire County Council savings exercise but the facility has been moved into Bedworth Heath Community Centre, where books are now loaned out on an “honesty” basis.

Mr Hawkes, who lives near the library in Bedworth Heath, said: “As a former council leader in Brighton, Lord Bassam was interested in seeing what was happening in our small community.

‘‘He was shocked that the even the Conservative ward councillors had supported the closure; abandoning community facilities instead of fighting for them.

"As an alternative they stuck an A frame bookshelf in the entrance to a community centre and claimed it’s a library, even though there is no librarian or no other facilities. It’s a con.”

Coun Aldington said: “When I was showing Lord Bassam the barred front door a local resident came over to tell us how the empty building was attracting problems in the evenings.

‘‘Groups of youths gather outside the library and there was concern about vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

"I will need to ask the police to keep an eye on what’s going on around this abandoned building.”