Campaigners in Churchdown fear county council cuts will leave future generations uneducated and roaming the streets
CAMPAIGNERS in Churchdown fear county council cuts will leave future generations uneducated and roaming the streets.
More than 150 people packed into Churchdown Community Centre on Monday to lobby council chiefs over plans to close Horizon's Youth Centre and cut Churchdown Library's opening hours from 34 to just three.
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MESSAGE: School children protesting outside Churchdown Community Centre. From left; Verity Burrow, Rhian Pembridge, Jennifer Buxton, Alex Buxton, Naya Hemens-Westaway, Katie Forbes, Rosie Forbes, Georgina Lawrance, and Oliver Perkins. Below; Coun Antonia Noble is handed a petition.
Shire Hall libraries chief Councillor Antonia Noble and Councillor Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for community safety, were there to face a grilling from the angry residents.
Derek Fisher, whose wife Diane died last year, made an emotional plea to keep the library open.
The 79-year-old, of Goodmoor Crescent, said: "My wife Diane, who died in September, loved books and our library.
"In the last few months of her life, when she couldn't read any more, she still would ask us to take her there in her wheelchair and choose audio books.
"So what would she say to ask you now? Well, some of it would be unprintable, but why is Churchdown particularly being treated so badly?
"We have a lovely building, five primary and two secondary schools, with many kids still without computers at home, and an 11,000 population.
"That's not only far more than all the others in the Link category, but more than in eight of the 11 in the Library Express, and even more than four of the main libraries.
"Yes, some cuts are needed, but three hours per week for Churchdown would be an insult - we still deserve a proper if reduced service."
A petition against the cuts which contained 1,058 signatures, was handed to Ms Noble by youngsters from the area on behalf of the people of Churchdown.
Eight-year-old Michael Bevan, said: "Churchdown Library has been part of my life as long as I can remember. It helped me to learn to read when I was young and gave me a great love of reading which I know I will always have.
"What are the next lot of children going to do if you shut the library?"
Reverend Katie Morgan from St John's Church, was worried about a rise in anti-social behaviour if the youth service was cut.
She said: "When these young people start roaming the streets because they have nowhere else to go they will get help from the police.
"But we need to step in first and give our young people something to do so they don't get into trouble in the first place. What is going to happen in 20 years time when some of our young people will be out of control?"
Ms Noble, said cuts had to be made so the council could slash £108 million from its budget over four years.
She said: "We do care about the community and their views but we have to make £22 million of savings next year.
"I know people use the library and I know they are popular but we have to make these savings and I think we have done the best we can to make library coverage for the county I know three hours is not ideal but this will be fed back to the consultation process and we will look at how volunteers can help."
Mr Windsor-Clive said that although the youth service was being cut, the council was planning on putting more money into focused youth services in areas where it was needed most.
Gloucestershire County Council will debate the cuts in the county at its meeting today, in the Council Chamber at Shire Hall at 10am. People who want to guarantee a seat are advised to queue from 9am.
11 Comments
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by Tom, Hucclecote
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 3:37PM
“Definitions of feckless on the Web:
¿not fit to assume responsibility
¿generally incompetent and ineffectual; "feckless attempts to repair the plumbing"; "inept handling of the account"
That any help to you? Perhaps not I think.”
by Feckless Eddie, Walking the streets
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 3:25PM
“Tom,
Please use paragraphs as it makes reading your comments so much easier.
Thank you”
by Fluffi, Churchdown
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 3:01PM
“Those poor kids. They spent ages making their banners and the TIG website displays their picture as a thumbnail. Guess they should think themselves lucky though, TIG missed off completely the pic it referenced with Coun. Noble being handed the petition!!”
by Tony, Glos
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 2:23PM
“There seem to be some mornings when comments are held up from appearing, and then the restriction is lifted and everything appears at once.
I don't want to dfend Coun Noble's apparent naivity, but I suppose that for every volunteer who ends up not giving as much, or even any time, as they promised, some will find that they enjoy the work and give even more. Encouraging as many people to come forward, while not pressuring them to commit to a specific 'tour of duty' therefore, might create a happy, sustainable group of volunteers.
That's just a theory, though. In practise, there simply might not be enough people out there with the time.”
by Tom, Hucclecote
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 11:51AM
“Nah m8 it seems its all or nothing”
by Quedgeley Guy, Quedgeley
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 11:25AM
“I see that I'm not the only one suffering with Tig Glitches,Tom.”
by Tom, Hucclecote
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 10:58AM
“QUOTE.... I know three hours is not ideal but this will be fed back to the consultation process and we will look at how volunteers can help."
Volunteers are not the answer here as the County Council as they have to adhere to the data protection act who is going to be going through peoples information? A Library service wherever in the County needs a dedicated service of staffing arrangements not there could be a chance someone may be in today to not only open up but keep the Library open throughout the day. Past history has shown that the use of volunteers has never really worked as there are times when volunteers just do not bother to turn up. If Ms Noble was to research the facts covering volunteers within the Library service she would clearly see a distinct lack of support regarding these individuals. The information she seems to have from her sources lacks credibility in its facts and as such leaves a service seriously flawed in such a way that her sources have very little knowledge as to the day to day running of this service. She appears not to be aware of the massive turnover of volunteer staff who either do not bother turn up or for that matter give any indication through a phone call to say they are not turning up. Furthermore one would have to question a volunteers knowledge on the many subjects that dedicated staffing would cover bearing in mind it is not just about stamping books out for people. Under the present climate with many people losing their employment means that Library usage will rise giving the need for a more demanding service requirement not a stripped down one. A distinct lack of vision from this Counties Councillors will inevitably leave this County seriously lacking in many of its services at a time when these services would become tantamount to a necessity.”
by Tom, Hucclecote
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 9:51AM
“QUOTE.... I know three hours is not ideal but this will be fed back to the consultation process and we will look at how volunteers can help."
Volunteers are not the answer here as the County Council as they have to adhere to the data protection act who is going to be going through peoples information? A Library service wherever in the County needs a dedicated service of staffing arrangements not there could be a chance someone may be in today to not only open up but keep the Library open throughout the day. Past history has shown that the use of volunteers has never really worked as there are times when volunteers just do not bother to turn up. If Ms Noble was to research the facts covering volunteers within the Library service she would clearly see a distinct lack of support regarding these individuals. The information she seems to have from her sources lacks credibility in its facts and as such leaves a service seriously flawed in such a way that her sources have very little knowledge as to the day to day running of this service. She appears not to be aware of the massive turnover of volunteer staff who either do not bother turn up or for that matter give any indication through a phone call to say they are not turning up. Furthermore one would have to question a volunteers knowledge on the many subjects that dedicated staffing would cover bearing in mind it is not just about stamping books out for people. Under the present climate with many people losing their employment means that Library usage will rise giving the need for a more demanding service requirement not a stripped down one. A distinct lack of vision from this Counties Councillors will inevitably leave this County seriously lacking in many of its services at a time when these services would become tantamount to a necessity.”
by Tom, Hucclecote
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 9:47AM
“QUOTE.... I know three hours is not ideal but this will be fed back to the consultation process and we will look at how volunteers can help."
Volunteers are not the answer here as the County Council as they have to adhere to the data protection act who is going to be going through peoples information? A Library service wherever in the County needs a dedicated service of staffing arrangements not there could be a chance someone may be in today to not only open up but keep the Library open throughout the day. Past history has shown that the use of volunteers has never really worked as there are times when volunteers just do not bother to turn up. If Ms Noble was to research the facts covering volunteers within the Library service she would clearly see a distinct lack of support regarding these individuals. The information she seems to have from her sources lacks credibility in its facts and as such leaves a service seriously flawed in such a way that her sources have very little knowledge as to the day to day running of this service. She appears not to be aware of the massive turnover of volunteer staff who either do not bother turn up or for that matter give any indication through a phone call to say they are not turning up. Furthermore one would have to question a volunteers knowledge on the many subjects that dedicated staffing would cover bearing in mind it is not just about stamping books out for people. Under the present climate with many people losing their employment means that Library usage will rise giving the need for a more demanding service requirement not a stripped down one. A distinct lack of vision from this Counties Councillors will inevitably leave this County seriously lacking in many of its services at a time when these services would become tantamount to a necessity.”
by Tom, Hucclecote
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 9:44AM
“QUOTE.... I know three hours is not ideal but this will be fed back to the consultation process and we will look at how volunteers can help."
Volunteers are not the answer here as the County Council as they have to adhere to the data protection act who is going to be going through peoples information? A Library service wherever in the County needs a dedicated service of staffing arrangements not there could be a chance someone may be in today to not only open up but keep the Library open throughout the day. Past history has shown that the use of volunteers has never really worked as there are times when volunteers just do not bother to turn up. If Ms Noble was to research the facts covering volunteers within the Library service she would clearly see a distinct lack of support regarding these individuals. The information she seems to have from her sources lacks credibility in its facts and as such leaves a service seriously flawed in such a way that her sources have very little knowledge as to the day to day running of this service. She appears not to be aware of the massive turnover of volunteer staff who either do not bother turn up or for that matter give any indication through a phone call to say they are not turning up. Furthermore one would have to question a volunteers knowledge on the many subjects that dedicated staffing would cover bearing in mind it is not just about stamping books out for people. Under the present climate with many people losing their employment means that Library usage will rise giving the need for a more demanding service requirement not a stripped down one. A distinct lack of vision from this Counties Councillors will inevitably leave this County seriously lacking in many of its services at a time when these services would become tantamount to a necessity.”