Call for Library Consultation (Southport Liberal Democrats)

Southport Liberal Democrats <info@southportlibdems.org.uk>

Call for Library Consultation

August 27, 2009 9:28 AM

Southport Library

MP John Pugh is calling on the council to put Library and Arts Centre users properly in the loop and use the remaining summer months to sound them out on the the re-development proposals, its problems, challenges and benefits.

Dr Pugh said: "The Councils PR department have made a complete dogs dinner of explaining this issue, preferring to say little if anything. Library users though are almost by definition not stupid and would welcome the opportunity of some consultation over the admittedly hard and important choices that confront the council. They need to know how bad the state of the current building is, what monies are available now and in the more constrained future."

He continued: "If buildings have to be closed completely for internal re-construction or removal of asbestos don't the public have a view of what might be an acceptable level of interim service? The project has been developed quickly and we know grants have to be spent when grants are available. This might set tight time limits but a library is supposed to be an information point!

"The buildings belong to the people not the council officers and people can understand and provide input if they know the facts. The public can share a vision if they can see it. However the PR arm of the council seem to regard it as their mission to keep even useful, helpful information on the project away from the public. It's a well funded department and could clearly do much more."