Now I’m not one to follow local council politics and such-like but I did raise an eyebrow when I read of the possible closure of Hoylake Library.Â
It would appear that in an attempt to cut costs, various Wirral public libraries and sports centres are facing closure. Currently there are 27 public libraries across Wirral and you can find more about them on the council website – here’s the listing for Hoylake.
- How well used is our local library – does anyone monitor this?
- How much does it cost to run for a year?
- What determines the cost effectiveness of a library?
- Would we all be facing big increases in council tax in order to keep all these facilities open?
- If it closed, what would happen to the building?
As a family we visit the library regularly and there’s always someone in there too. Would we personally use West Kirby library if Hoylake closed? I guess so, only I doubt we’d use it as much.
Politics aside, what are your views about Hoylake library?
we would be gutted to see the closure of Hoylake library. for us, it contributes towards the “community” feel of the area. whilst we don’t visit on a weekly basis, it is an amenity that children and adults alike would be lost without. we regularly use it for not only reading material but internet access, printing etc. Would we travel to w kirby just to visit the library – probably not. remember, you dont know what you’ve got until its gone!
I agree that it’s a shame about the proposed closure of Hoylake library. We use it regularly but when we worked away we hardly ever used it. We will miss the service and the community focal point but not the building itself which is not very attractive, and not fit for purpose (the first floor cannot be accessed by the disabled) and the parking is very limited. I am concerned that once the facility is withdrawn from Hoylake there will be no going back.
This was a recent relevant article which illustrates how the proposed cuts will affect the disabled.
Library had ramp fitted – now it’s on hit-list
Dec 3 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post
Library had ramp fitted – now it’s on hit-list
A WHEELCHAIR user from Wirral, who waited for years for her local library to have disabled access, last night spoke of her devastation that it is being closed.
Carol O’Neil, who suffers from osteo-arthritis, has enjoyed a new freedom since Hoylake library had a ramp fitted two years ago.
But the council’s announcement that the library is one of those facing closure under its review of assets has shattered her.
The local authority has said it faces mounting bills for a backlog of repairs on libraries, leisure centres and museums and its leaders have brought the need for action to a head with the call for “tough decisions†to be made.
Carol said she had asked Wirral West MP Stephen Hesford to help get a wheelchair ramp at Hoylake library, and two years ago her wish came true.
Her husband, Jim, had previously had to go to the library for her books.
But just the simple ability to choose the books she likes has made a huge difference to her life, which has been largely wheelchair bound since the 1980s.
Jim said: “For seven years, Carol was capable of walking to Hoylake Library, but in 1982 she had both her kneecaps removed, and as the joints were really badly damaged, has never been able to have them replaced.
“Since then, she has been confined to a wheelchair when outdoors.â€
But the only library within realistic wheelchair range is Hoylake, and the Direct Payment system for personal care rules out asking those carers to get books for her. Carol said: “I got a call from the staff at the library on the day of the announcement to tell me they had just heard about the closures and couldn’t stop crying.â€
At least a dozen libraries will be closed, Birkenhead central library’s historic building will be shut and its functions moved to a new centre at the Europa Pools site. Pacific Road Theatre will go, along with the Transport Museum there and Wirral library at Birkenhead Town Hall. Among the leisure centres facing closure are Woodchurch, Guinea Gap and Grange Road West.
Brenda Thompson, of Woodchurch Swimming Club, which has 200 members aged five to 19, said the planned cuts are “absolutely devastating†for the members and the volunteers.
She added: “It’s the effect on the children, because they don’t just learn to swim but learn social skills, plus it keeps them off the streets. It’s so annoying that they think we can be relocated anywhere, but how?â€
Cllr Steve Foulkes said it is essential his authority carries out this review of all the council’s built assets “to ensure they are fit for the 21st century and beyondâ€.
He said without action, council tax could “increase exponentially†and this plan will allow the authority to improve services to meet the quality people expect, in locations which suit them.
Wirral’s Strategic Asset Review will go to public consultation before recommendations are put to cabinet in January.
PACIFIC Road Theatre, one of the venues under threat from the council’s asset review, is to host the BBC’s flagship political programme Question Time this Thursday, December 4.
The programme is recorded in front of a live audience from around 8pm.
liammurphy
I wonder how many of the councillors proposing to close the Hoylake Library has visited it.
If they had then they would realise that it is a major focal point of community life in Hoylake. As a regular user I see pensioners meeting there, youngsters enjoying the children’s section, a varied cross-section of Internet users and some people just there to read the daily papers.
It is impossible to quantify the usage by looking at statistics on membership or book withdrawal.
West Kirby Concourse only has pay and display parking. The side streets and Fire Brigade access roads are already filled with users that don’t want to pay every time they go to swap a library book.
So what’s the solution?
The council could let the Conservatives have a go, could they do any worst. Or they could raise the council tax by 4-5% and cover the budget shortfall. After all they have raised the tax by at least 4% for 3 out of the last 4 years so there would be no change there.
I used that library a lot when I was a nipper so it’ll be horrible if it closed. Hoylake has seen a lot of terrible things happen to it in terms of buildings being demolished. I was shocked to see the Wirral Horn Arcade replaced with some horrendous office buildings – Hoylake is losing its identity and this is another nail in its coffin.
The old Hoylake library was my favourite haunt as a child. It was there that I became an avid reader, and there that my first attempts at writing were encouraged and supported. I lived in Hoylake until my twenties, and still have family in the Wirral. I was devastated to hear of the threatened closure of this invaluable community resource and have joined authors throughout the coutnry to campaign against it
Berlie Doherty
author and playwright