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Southend's branch libraries in cost cutters’ sights (From Echo)
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Southend's branch libraries in cost cutters’ sights
8:00am Thursday 12th July 2012 in News
By Stephen Hackwell
Concern – councillor Martin Terry and resident Dave Batter outside Westcliff library
DOUBT has been cast over the future of Southend’s libraries after council chiefs revealed plans to cut costs.
Bosses at Southend Council want to conduct a review of the town’s six suburban branches, with the aim of squeezing even more cash from the already stripped-back system.
The move has led campaigners to fear some libraries could be shut.
Derek Jarvis, the Tory councillor responsible for culture, said there was no underlying motive for the review. He said:“All options are open at this stage. We just felt the time was right to begin to look at this area.
“We will act on any recommendations if and when they are finalised.”
Libraries in Southend are among the top ten most-used in the country, according to council statistics.
However, over the past two years, chiefs have been forced to shave £417,000 from their budgets, mainly by reducing the number of new books and DVDs.
So far, the cuts have not affected the opening hours of any branches.
However, the council needs to find ways to save £32million over the next three years, and bosses say further cuts to the libraries are inevitable.
With £27million being invested in a new central library, in Elmer Square, they have looked to the six smaller branches – two in Shoebury, and one each in Westcliff, Eastwood, Southchurch and Leigh.
The review, if it is signed off by Tory leaders in September, will include an “assessment of need” in the areas surrounding each library. It will also consider other ways of providing the service, such as moving an existing branch.
In 2011, residents mounted a spirited campaign, led by Independent councillor Martin Terry, to defend Westcliff Library following rumours.
Mr Terry said: “It is true we will have a fantastic new library in Southend next year, but places like Westcliff library are needed by the community. We have a lot of people living near it who use the library regularly, but cannot get to the town centre.”
Comments are closed on this article.
Comments (21)
9:15am Thu 12 Jul 12
EssexBoy1968 says...
9:49am Thu 12 Jul 12
maureen says...
10:13am Thu 12 Jul 12
Blind Haze says...
Unfortunately we need to make cuts somewhere and, sad as it may seem, this would be a logical area.
I know the council has spent a lot of money on other things that people deem a waste, but I think the library is slowly going to become defunct. Not what I want to see, just me gazing into a crystal ball.
11:11am Thu 12 Jul 12
perini says...
11:14am Thu 12 Jul 12
freecomment says...
12:03pm Thu 12 Jul 12
r6keith says...
Librarys are used by all, but also by those that do not have the money for computers and Kindles so they go to the local library, if you close the local branches then to use the library they would have to incur bus fares to get free books and for those with little money already this is just not good enough.
12:51pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Andycal 172D says...
ral centre?
Really?
Anyone not see the obvious conclusion?
1:27pm Thu 12 Jul 12
The Real Haze says...
That is all my brain can take in from your regular nonsensical postings.
So, so boring.
1:33pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Blind Haze says...
Loadsa love
Blind Haze
xxxxx
1:35pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Blind Haze says...
1:39pm Thu 12 Jul 12
The Real Haze says...
Meh, meh, meh, meh, meh.
Can anyone translate this rambling nonsense into something coherent for me?
1:45pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Blind Haze says...
1:49pm Thu 12 Jul 12
The Real Haze says...
A long continuous, monotonous, tiresome noise.
You've been Hazed!
1:55pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Blind Haze says...
2:12pm Thu 12 Jul 12
The Cater Wood Creeper says...
2:12pm Thu 12 Jul 12
r6keith says...
2:16pm Thu 12 Jul 12
The Real Haze says...
You probably haven't stepped foot in one for years.
And the last time you did you probably sat there and drew pictures of stick men and entered them into competitions designed for children to enter. Or something.
2:17pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Blind Haze says...
2:18pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Blind Haze says...
8:48am Fri 13 Jul 12
Lefty Cyclist Type says...
9:37am Fri 13 Jul 12
Blind Haze says...