CHAFFORD Hundred councillors have fought back at Labour proposals to close their library.
The Labour administration are proposing to close the library and save £10,000 this financial year.
All the Conservative ward councillors in Chafford Hundred- Tunde Ojetola, Steve Veryard, Garry Hague and Neil Rockliffe have expressed concerns.
Ward councillor for South Chafford, cllr Ojetola said: “Because the Chafford Hundred library is jointly funded by the schools and the council, if the council withdraw the £60,000 spent on the library each year, both the campus and primary school may not be able to maintain it and therefore its future could be at risk.”
According to cllr Ojetola many residents have contacted them about the proposed withdrawal of council funding of at the library.
He added: “We are aware that the council has to review all aspects of the budget, but we are quite concerned about the proposal to withdraw all the funding.”
Cllr Ojetola explained the “multi-purpose building” is mainly used by Chafford primary and secondary school children, Chafford Hundred residents and children from others schools in the area.
According to the councillors a recent Freedom of Information request shows that the Chafford Hundred library in Mayflower Road is the third most used library in Thurrock with 91,000 visits last year alone.
Cllr Ojetola added: “Our mains concerns are has the full effects if the library is closed been considered? Will the schools be able to support the library staying open or will it totally close? Children are being encouraged to read, where is the council proposing lessons are carried out?
“And have the council looked at alternative forms of working- like closing it for one day a week or reducing opening hours? What is going to happen to the staff and where is the consultation?
“We all agree that the council has to reconsider its budget, but we are asking the council to review this proposal so that the library can remain open.”
The purpose of this personal blogsite is to pass Ward or Thurrock related information across, and to allow residents comment on plans or proposals. Residents suggestions for developments in the community are certainly very welcome.
2 comments:
Tunde, this is appalling. The library is the only facility Chafford has. You go around the rest of the borough and you find playing fields, swimming pools, golf course, rugby pitches, public transport and so on. Why do Thurroc Council still not get it, that compared to the rest of the borough Chafford has virtually nothing and to take away the little it has is shaemful.
Tunde, I agree with the previous comment. As well if there has to be £10,000 in savings, why only in Chafford? This should be shared accross the 10 libraries in Thurrock so everyone has a chance to join the Big Society.
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