Library loss sparks fury

Published 25 Feb 2010 13:04 0 Comments

Share this

THE loss of the library in Cove and Kilcreggan sparked fury at the village community council.

And even the news that the closure would not be immediate has failed to stifle the anger.

The meeting heard that while the library was not heavily used, there had been a guarantee from the council when they handed the Burgh Hall over to the community that the library would not close.

The reason for the guarantee, was that the hall depends on the rent from the library for a sizeable part of its income, and there are fears that the loss of the library will be a severe blow for the hall's management committee.

The meeting heard from one member of the committee that the room the library occupies would be freed up for letting. It is a beautiful room but it does pose problems because of a lack of disabled access and fire regulations.

Council members were also dismayed by the loss of community internet access.

Gerry Deery commented: "I am sadly disappointed not to see any of our three local councillors here tonight."

Murdo MacDonald told the meeting that he was not so concerned about the loss of the library but was very concerned about the loss of income to the Burgh Hall.

He said that he was tired of hearing that the local councillors "can't do anything" and said: "It is simply not good enough.

"We should demand that our local councillors go up to Kilmory and fight to get this changed."

He said that people should email and write to the councillors. "It is time they started to fight for this community," he said. "I want to see minutes that show them standing up and fighting for this community."

He also complained that none of the local councillors had told the community council that the library was under threat. He had only heard about the closure through a Helensburgh councillor.

Community Council chairman Nick Davies pointed out that there had been a fight last year to save the libraries and it had been won but the community had not subsequently rallied round and made use of the library.

The council agreed, however, to write in strong terms to Argyll and Bute Council protesting about the loss of the library and the potential damage to the Burgh Hall.

The members of the Garelochhead Community Council also discussed the loss of their village library but they heard that more villagers were registered with the library in Helensburgh than at Garelochhead. They were assured the two staff would be relocated in posts elsewhere and the closure would not be sudden but managed.

This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 25 Feb 10

Follow @helensburghadv

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.