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Library’s swift closure attacked
Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date online: 28/04/2009
THE Liberal Democrats have been accused of contempt after the closure of Broadway Library was brought forward.
The shock news came to light just hours after Labour’s proposal to save and improve the library, or provide a better one near by, was defeated by one vote.
Broadway will now close on May 16 rather than in June to save as much money as possible.
Councillor David Hibbert made the failed attempt to save the library at Wednesday’s Oldham Council meeting — when the Lib-Dems administration seemed unaware of the change to the closing date.
Councillor Hibbert fumed: “We thought it was there until the end of June, that’s what we were told.
“They are treating people with contempt. There’s one person who works there who has been on the phone to me in tears trying to find out what’s going on.”
Around 1,000 people signed a petition to save Broadway which opened in December, 1954, to celebrate the Queen’s coronation. Pupils from Yew Tree Primary School also presented letters pleading for it to stay.
It will close along with Stoneleigh Library and the mobile library to help save £20 million.
A temporary facility will be provided at Turf Lane Community Centre.
Councillor Hibbert is concerned about the impact on classes and students at Turf Lane and added: “I feel when they put the temporary arrangements in place it will be temporary for quite a few years.
“It going to cost a lost of money to move the library, its going to disrupt the existing users and the cost of securing the properties on Broadway will be wasted expenditure.”
Veronica Jackson, executive director of people, communities and society, refuted a rumour that the library had already been bought by a housing association.
She confirmed: “This swift closure is vital in order to ensure that the council achieves the savings it has budgeted for. I would like to make it absolutely clear that currently there are no plans whatsoever for the disposal of this site.”
Have Your Say
The current leadership have treated us all with contempt, and ignored what we have had to say, ignored our pleas for help, retention of the excellent service that is currently been provided and soon to be ripped out of community.
Hang your heads in shame! For you have all dishonoured the people of Chadderton and Oldham!
What Jackson is saying is that they are removing the financial burden from the council and placing onto the taxpayer through inefficient, expensive PFI programmes and social housing landlords
These were comments made by the Chief Exec. when the involved staff were appointed to 'new' roles.
'The new slimmed-down structure, based on 'themes rather than services', will make our organisation more relevant to our customers by better reflecting the areas that residents, businesses and others in Oldham have told us are important to them.'
Themes rather than services? That just about says it all.
You cab bet your bottom dollar that had the library been in Saddleworth the Lib Dems would have been queuing up to save it! As it's not it really doesn't matter much to them, bit like the rest of Oldham really.
'currently there are no plans whatsoever for the disposal...' simply means they haven't signed the document yet.
Do they think we are stupid? What do they intend to do with the site if they don't sell it?
The Chief Executive's comments shows he hasn't listened to the people of Oldham
The library could have been saved,just get rid of 2 senior managers at OMBC and with the money save um wallah!
Reading this report, actaully made me laugh, so hard I fell off my chair.
"no plans whatsoever for the disposal of this site." Mrs Jackson do you actaully believe we were born yesterday? Honestly, Wake up and smell the roses, anything that comes out of Oldham Council at the moment is treated with contemmpt. None of you know what the truth is anymore!
By wazzarsa @ 28/04/2009 13:35:52
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