Free Online at www.coastalviewandmoornews.co.uk The Community Newspaper for the Towns and Villages of East Cleveland, Redcar & North York Moors, telling the real news and views of the people of our region Issue 80 June - July 2017
Coastal View’s 7th Birthday Issue •• This month 26,300 copies ••
New plans for Council's Library Service
● Members of Friends of Loftus Library and library users
R
edcar and Cleveland Council's Labour Cabinet has agreed to maintain the Council's mobile library service and develop it as a community support centre following a major public consultation. The impact of Tory Government cuts had meant that proposals had been drawn up to reduce the cost of library services across the borough by £400,000 This included a cut to the mobile library service as part of a wider savings programme. However, having listened to residents and users it is now proposed by Cabinet Members to keep the mobile library and to investigate turning it into a public health and customer advice centre. The Cabinet meeting also agreed to keep open both Loftus and Redcar’s Roseberry Square libraries for 31 hours a week instead of the previously proposed 14 hours. The 12-week public consultation included writing to all the mobile library users and asking for their views. During the course of the consultation a range of options were considered including using new technology such as electronic book readers. Councillor Alec Brown, Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods, said: “We believe very strongly in maintaining our library service. That’s why we always intended to keep a library presence in all 13 of the areas where we have them now. I am delighted that we have found a way to retain our mobile library and keep our libraries at Roseberry Square and Loftus open for longer.” Councillor Sue Jeffrey, Leader of the Council, said: “I would like to thank every member of the public who engaged with our consultation and it was good to see such a high number of
responses and the goodwill shown to our library service. Labour, locally,, is determined to continue to offer a very high standard of library service. I know this move will be welcomed by all members of the Council." Carol Clifford of the Friends of Loftus Library group said: "A very big thank you to all who helped in any way to save Loftus Library. "Thanks to all who signed petitions, (over 1500), wrote letters, filled in consultation documents, the schools whose children wrote letters and did posters and local councillors who supported our campaign. "Thanks also to Redcar and Cleveland Council who took note of the views of the Loftus community and are now upgrading us to a modern Library in its present position on our High Street." Independent Borough Councillor for Loftus Ward, Mary Lanigan told Coastal View: "Following a huge campaign from local residents about the moving and reducing of hours to the Library in Loftus the campaign has succeed in reversing that decision a recommendation which is now going to the Cabinet meeting on May 30th to maintain the Library service in its present building and keep the opening hours to thirty one a week. "Friends of Loftus Library a group formed to fight the original recommendation led by Carol Clifford and other prominent local residents organised meetings with Loftus Town Council to lobby support local schools were involved along with a massive petition and press statements to highlight the loss and reduction in service this would cause. "I am delighted that the Borough Council have taken note of the feelings of the local residents.
Freebrough Flyer 12 page supplement inside
The library does need some improvements and it has not as yet been given modern library status as has been given to Saltburn, Marske, Skelton, Grangetown and Ormesby. Other libraries have been given Hub library status opening forty seven hours a week these are located in Redcar, Guisborough and Southbank. "Loftus is at the extremity of Borough the mobile library service which served the
outlying rural communities of this surrounding area is now to be retained in its present form this was also part of the public consultation residents felt that it would have a massive impact on vulnerable and frail people within the communities "If these new recommendations are implemented following the public outcry then the fight was well worth it. "Residents of this area have been listened to."