Culture watchdog backs library campaigners!

Campaigners battling budget cuts which could lead to the closure of Marksbury Road library have won the backing of Bristol City Council's Culture watchdog.

Campaigner Wayne Coombes urged councillors serving on the Quality of Life Scrutiny Commission for their help in reversing the "disastrous decision" to shut the popular Bedminster branch library.

Mr Coombes said: "At a time when both the council and government aspire to produce vibrant local communities, it is barely conceivable to have a proposal to close down the only community facility in this deprived and forgotten part of south Bristol.

"Many children have no access to computers or books at home and rely on access at their nearby library for experiences most of us take for granted.

"Marksbury Road library is a focal point for a range of activities which help to mitigate some of the consequences of multiple deprivation we suffer here."

Councillors unanimously backed a motion moved by Commission Chairman Councillor Richard Eddy which urged the Labour-run Cabinet to ditch plans to close Marksbury Road library "without proper consultation or examination of the impact upon the surrounding community."

Cllr Eddy (Con, Bishopsworth), who chaired the recent Libraries Select Committee, said: "This council has rightly recognised the key role of libraries in educational attainment, literacy, community engagement and neighbourhood management.

"The proposal to axe Marksbury Road library is desperately short-sighted and driven purely by the need to make swingeing budget cuts.

"There has been no meaningful consultation with local people over this closure and, on behalf of the Quality of Life Scrutiny Commission, I urge the Cabinet to drop this proposal at its budget-fixing meeting on 4th February."

Back to Local News Index 23 January 2008