The Cobbett Road Library friends group is holding a public meeting on Monday, February 23 at the Ascension Centre to discuss ways to save this popular Bitterne Park amenity, which the Labour council has earmarked for “community led initiatives or for disposal”.

 

Jettisoning responsibility for running Cobbett Road would save the council just £52,000 a year.

“The choice does not have to be ‘volunteer run’ or ‘closure’”.
Friends of Cobbett Road Library Chair Kevin Lancashire

But the Friends of Cobbett Road Library (FOCRL) have argued since November that it isn't realistic to expect them to run it voluntarily. They want to work with the council and other groups to find what's been described as a “third way”.

Possibilities

“A range of possibilities [to improve utilisation of the council's library building] have been investigated, and the meeting will consider half a dozen or so of the most promising options. Please come along to hear about these, and to contribute your ideas and views. Bring your friends – we have booked a venue substantially larger than CRL’s Community Room as we are hoping for a significant attendance,” says a FOCRL newsletter.

FOCRL has so far collected around 1800 signatures – what the group calls “an astonishing result” – on its online petition calling for Labour deputy leader Cllr Barnes-Andrews to work with the community “to help keep the library innovative and offering more but not by Community Asset Transfer”.

‘We think some questions are loaded’

FOCRL are also urging people to complete the council's consultation on the future of libraries, although they say in their newsletter: “we think some questions are loaded”.

Consultations for primary and secondary-aged children have also been made available during February on the council's website; around 37% of books at Cobbett are taken out by children.

Details:
FOCRL public meeting, from 7.30 7-9pm on Monday, February 23 at the Ascension Centre, 1 Thorold Road, Bitterne Park, Southampton, SO18 1HZ