Village library to shut doors next week
A VILLAGE library is set to close next week.
North Somerset Council announced last year it was considering closing Banwell Library, along with others in Congresbury and Backwell, as it sought to save millions from its budget.
Now, despite a campaign by villagers and Banwell Youth Council – which saw youngsters and residents march to the nearest alternative library in Winscombe, about two miles away – the council has announced the village library will close next Friday.
The authority says visits to Banwell Library since a review of its services was launched in 2009 have reduced by 58 per cent.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013
The closure date has been agreed at the same time as the council plans to carry out significant repairs and improvements to Winscombe Library.
People wanting to use the library service will either have to travel to Winscombe or rely on the authority's mobile library service.
The review has also seen the closure of Backwell library, and Congresbury library taken over by volunteers and financially supported by the parish council.
However in other towns, including Portishead, cash has been ploughed into services, with a new library opening at Horatio House in April.
Weston-super-Mare Library will move out of its current base at The Boulevard and relocate to the newly refurbished Town Hall in the autumn.
North Somerset Council executive member for libraries, Felicity Baker, said: "Planning is under way and we are close to a property solution for Winscombe.
"Although this will not be finalised or sorted during the next two months we are confident that we have found a solution that represents value for money and improves the facilities for the long term."
From September 6 the mobile library will visit Banwell's West Street car park between 2pm and 5pm each Thursday.
Computer facilities will remain available at Banwell Children's Centre, along with access to other local libraries such as Worle and the Campus which has recently extended their opening hours.
Banwell Library members can continue to benefit from the Libraries West Partnership, which gives them access to over 100 libraries along with ability to request and renew online.
All books can be requested this way and arranged to be picked up from the mobile library.
Housebound residents can also use a home library delivery service.
More information about the Banwell Library closure and how residents can access the library service is available at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/banwelllibraryFAQs
Comments
by PortisheadAH1
Monday, August 27 2012, 9:02PM
“The wording in this report regarding Portishead Library would be questioned by many residents. This article states, "However in other towns, including Portishead, cash has been ploughed into services, with a new library opening at Horatio House in April." If cash had been "ploughed" in, Portishead would have had its purpose built library which the residents were promised and which never came due to many problems which a reporter likened to an Agatha Cristie mystery. Instead, the town's library was eventually put into a unit which had been lying empty due to lack of interest. The library situation in Backwell is appalling to and is now in a leisure centre. Who was involved? Read the first comment....!”
by thurti365
Saturday, August 25 2012, 10:59AM
“Totally agree with all your comments Andrew.”
by slevels
Friday, August 24 2012, 4:13PM
“Just thought I'd add...
The local MP is a man called Penrose. He lives in Winscombe. And he is a government minister in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). His department oversees the library services. On his website, he pats himself on the back for how much he does for "... the villages..."
Not a single peep out of him as his bed-fellows in North Somerset Council close Banwell Library.”
by slevels
Friday, August 24 2012, 4:04PM
“What a miserable apology for a so-called article. It reads almost exactly like they've just reprinted a press release straight from Felicity Baker and North Somerset Council. Not an ounce of real reporter or journalistic effort made.
The reason why useage figures have fallen away at Banwell Library is that from the time Ms Baker and chums stated that they intended to close Banwell, what then started to happen was that mysteriously, time and time again notices would appear in the window.......
"DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES, THIS LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED ON....
This date
That date
Another date
Yet another date.....
They made it impossible for local people to regularly use the library.
As for Winscombe Library, it was only last year that the Council found a can of Dulux to give it a quick makeover. Prior to that it didn't look like it had received a lick of paint in about 25 years.. I'll be interested to see what Felicity Baker and her cheapskate Conservative vision is for Winscombe Library now.
Andrew Preston”