Shropshire Star

Call for review over decision to move Church Stretton's library

A call has been made for a controversial decision to move Church Stretton's library to a nearby secondary school to be reviewed.

Published

Three Shropshire councillors want the proposal to close Church Stretton Library's existing base on Church Street to be called in for another look.

It comes after Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for culture and commissioning, rubber-stamped the plan to move the library out of the town centre to Church Stretton School in Shrewsbury Road at the end of March despite widespread public opposition.

The call has been made by councillors Heather Kidd, Roger Evans and Charlotte Barnes, who have submitted a formal request to Shirehall. Officials at the council have said a working group and advisory board will be set up to address the issues that have been raised about the impact of the relocation.

These include fears about town centre businesses being affected by people having to go to the outskirts of the town to visit the library.

But campaigners belonging to Church Stretton Library Support Group had claimed they felt they had been treated "shoddily" by Shropshire Council in the wake of Councillor Charmley's decision.

Neither Councillor Charmley nor anyone else at Shropshire Council were available to comment.

Councillor Evans, who represents Pontesbury, said: "It's patently obvious that removing the library from the town centre would be a disaster for Church Stretton.

"Moving it half a mile to the school in a place with such a significant elderly population is simply dreadful.

"There are a number of issues around safety for young people and for older library users which have not been thought through.

"We have worked closely with the library support group to make this submission.

"The detailed study that they have made shows the impact of this move will have on the community both socially and economically.

"It is vital the council reviews its decision before lasting harm is done."

Heather Kidd, councillor for Chirbury and Worthen, said: "It does appear that the library users of Church Stretton have not been offered the same possibilities that other communities have.

"They have only been offered this one option.

"Other places such as Pontesbury have been asked to find a way forward for themselves.

"Why is Church Stretton different?

"And why is council money being put into an independently-run academy where there is no promise of the library service being sustained?"

The library support group had presented Shropshire Council with a 1,100 signature petition against the move before a decision was made.

Their submission also included a 37-page action plan on how to keep the library where it is and still make the required £55,000 savings.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.