Conservatives celebrate cabinet climbdown!

Bristol Conservative Councillors have welcomed the Cabinet's climbdown over planned funding cuts which would have shut Marksbury Road library and threatened adult education courses across the city.

The Labour-run Council had proposed axing £110,000 from next year's Culture & Leisure Services Revenue Budget under the guise of 'efficiency savings'

but the move was met with a storm of protest from library-users in Bedminster. In addition, a shortfall of £160,000 had threatened future provision of adult learning places at popular venues such as Stoke Lodge Centre.

But, following angry protests from opposition Councillors and local residents, the city's Labour Cabinet was forced to grant the vital services an eleventh-hour reprieve.

Tory Group Leader, Councillor Richard Eddy said: “These policy reversals are a triumph for those who have fought so hard to keep Marksbury Road Library open and were determined to keep lifelong learning alive in Bristol.

“In the light of the massive local opposition these plans generated, I cannot say that this last minute about-turn by the Labour Cabinet is entirely surprising.

“Bristol could ill-afford another library closure, when access to our branch network is at an all-time low.

“Nevertheless, City Conservatives still believe that there is ample opportunity to cut bureaucracy back in the Budget, redirecting resources towards frontline services, and this will be reflected in our own budget amendment.”

Fellow Conservative Councillor John Goulandris, who has campaigned against the attack upon Adult Education, said he was delighted that a lifeline had been thrown to adult educational courses in St Pauls, Southmead and at Stoke Lodge.

Cllr Goulandris (Con, Stoke Bishop) said: “I greatly relieved that the Cabinet has listened to our arguments to find funding for the Adult Learning Service.

“The amount of money needed to keep these vital courses going was paltry compared to the whole Council budget.

“Slashing lifelong learning would have been a philistine act which completely ignores the many benefits which accrue to individuals and society from encouraging people to improve themselves.”

Back to Local News Index 4 February 2008