Friends petition against ‘closure by stealth’
A campaign has been launched to protect Bitterne Park’s library and community hub in Cobbett Road from proposed cuts to opening hours of over 50%. Friends of Cobbett Road library say the cuts would amount to “closure by stealth”, and are appealing to the community for support. Quick link: Friends' online petition
Left: Flashback to 2007: campaigning to save Cobbett Road Library
portswood.info: Library hours could be slashed at Portswood / Burgess Rd
Friends of Cobbett Road Library say that while the library service as a whole is being hit, Cobbett Road Library is being hit harder than most: under budget proposals opening times would be reduced to just 14.5 hours a week – which the group says amounts to “closure by stealth”.
The Friends group says the thriving community facility in Bitterne Park will not be able to properly function when it’s only open on such a restricted basis, and that the 21 community groups which use the library are likely to be particularly hard hit due to restricted access.
Groups hard hit
Groups which regularly use the library include a toddler group, art group, the Townswomen's Guild, an adult literacy group, various book groups, a ‘knit and natter’ group, a coffee morning, the business women's group, Tai Chi and many others.
There will also be little after school opening time for children to use the books or computers and printer for their homework in a safe environment.
“Times are hard, but libraries are even more important in these times. Especially a warm and friendly library like Cobbett.”
And the cuts are likely to put an end to children's activities in term time and school holidays, while unemployed people referred by the Job Centre to the library will have very limited time for access to the computers.
"We know these are tough times, but the library is a highly valued community resource, especially when times are hard," Doreen Le Huquet from the Friends' Group told bitternepark.info.
The Friends of Cobbett Road Library have identified the following ways you can lend your support to the campaign:
1. Sign the petition
Hard copies will be at the library by Friday, November 30.
Photo right: petitioning to save the library at The Triangle in 2007.
Click here to sign the online petition.
2 Download a hard copy of the petition
Talk to people about what’s happening and gather signatures demonstrating support. Completed sheets can be handed in to the Friends Group at the library.
3. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(Cabinet member for Housing and Leisure, responsible for libraries)
or write to him:
c/o Members' Services
Southampton City Council
Civic Centre
Southampton
SO14 7LY
4. E-mail Bitterne Park city councillors:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Or write to them:
c/o Members' Services
Southampton City Council
Civic Centre
Southampton
SO14 7LY
5. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Or write to him at:
Southampton Labour Party
20-22 Southampton Street
Southampton
SO15 2ED
6. Download and display the Friends of Cobbett Road Library poster
And please ask other people to do the same.
The council is running a libraries “service user consultation” until Februrary 11, 2013, from this link.