Here is a letter sent to people who signed our 7,000-strong petition to update them re progress. A big thank you to them all and especially to Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden) who was the mega star of the campaign
Dear Friend
This Thursday all your hard work paid off as the cabinet meeting at Southport Town Hall changed its mind about a replacement town centre library.
Previously, it was decided that residents would have to use the local libraries in Churchtown, Birkdale and Ainsdale during the 3-year closure. However, the 7000-strong petition you signed was reported to the cabinet and helped change the councillors minds.
The Liberal Democrats yet again put forward a resolution calling for an affordable temporary replacement for our Southport town centre library. This was agreed, thanks to the change of heart of the three Conservative councillors on the cabinet who previously had supported the branch library solution. Council officers have now been given firm instructions to take swift action and investigate all opportunities to deliver a town centre library.
Also,councillors have been working behind the scenes to find a suitable building and there has been one option that, at this stage, looks very promising. Everything hinges on getting the right building at the right price.But where there is a will, there is a way.
Thanks again for your efforts and support, and we will keep you informed about the progress of the search to find a suitable venue.
All the best,
Iain Brodie Browne
Save Southport Library Campaign
We welcome the fact that the three Conservatives on the ruling cabinet recognised their unfortunate misjudgement and did a U-turn to support our resolution for the need for a temporary town centre library. They were Cllr Paula Parry (Tory leader, Crosby), Cllr Brenda Porter (Deputy Tory leader, Southport) and Councillor Barry Griffith, Formby. They had previously agreed to the council officers branch library scheme, together with Labour.
