Good News for Library Association

Many months of hard work are starting to pay off for the team at the North Meols Library Association (NMLA). The excellent news is that Sefton Council will provide £25,000 towards the project to open a community-run library for Churchtown and the surrounding area.

This is how NMLA supporters were informed of the good news

End of an era for historic Churchtown Library

Despite a huge effort to save the well used and much loved Churchtown Library, including a 4,000 signature petition, Sefton Council were determined to close our library.

Churchtown Library being demolished. Photo credit Tom Sandham.

Churchtown Library shut its doors for the last time in November. Now the building has suffered the final indignity, as residents have watched it being slowly demolished over the last few weeks.

The only thing left is for the Council to sell the site off, although whether Sefton will recoup the £70,000 cost of demolishing the library remains to be seen.

Councillor Nigel Ashton outside Churchtown Library in happier times

Nigel Ashton leads sponsored walk to raise funds for a new library

Nigel Ashton was pleased to lead the recent sponsored walk to raise money for the North Meols Library Association. The aim is open a community 'Library in the Park' at Botanic Gardens, following the closure of Churchtown Library by Sefton Council.
 

Councillor Nigel Ashton with library campaigners at the end of the sponsored walk

The sponsored walk was held in conjunction with local businesses along the route from Churchtown library to the pavilion in the Gardens, also the North Meols Civic Society and the Botanic Gardens Community Association.

The Library Association are planning a walk from the old Crossens library to the pavilion in the summer and may even walk from the site of Wennington Road Library, passing Churchtown Library on the way. The sooner we have our own library run by the community the better.

North Meols Library Association newsletter

Here is the lastest newsletter from the North Meols Library Association

Latest Meols FOCUS newsletter

Here is the latest FOCUS newsletter from Meols Ward Liberal Democrats, which was recently delivered to residents of Churchtown, Crossens and Marshside.

New community Internet Cafe starts in Crossens

The first session of a new Internet Cafe is on Wednesday 6 November from 12 noon - 2pm at Crossens Community Centre, Rufford Road, Southport.

This is a joint venture between North Meols Library Association and Crossens Community Association to make some provision for computer facilities when Churchtown Library closes. This is only a small start, but if successful it is hoped to extend the service.

North Meols Library Association

The Friends of Churchtown Library have changed their name to the North Meols Library Assocation.

If you would like to join the North Meols Library Assocation, please email me - Cllr Nigel Ashton, Chair of NMLA, and I will pass your name on to our Secretary.

Here is our latest newsletter:

Friends of Churchtown Library news

The Friends of Churchtown Library (FoCL) have published their latest newsletter.

If you would like to join the Friends of Churchtown Library, please email me - Cllr Nigel Ashton, Acting Chair of FoCL, and I will pass your name on to our Secretary.

The Friends of Churchtown Library are holding a public meeting to establish what sort of library service the community want after Sefton Council closes Churchtown Library. The meeting is open to everyone and is on Thursday 10th October at 7:30 pm at St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Botanic Road, Churchtown.

Public meeting - Friends of Churchtown Library

The Friends of Churchtown Library are holding a public meeting to establish what sort of library service the community want after Sefton Council closes Churchtown Library.

The meeting is open to everyone and is on Thursday 10th October at 7:30 pm at St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Botanic Road, Churchtown.

Councillor Nigel Ashton, Chair of Friends of Churchtown Library, said "Despite a brilliant campaign supported by over 4,000 residents, Sefton Council has ploughed on with their library closure plans regardless. Our beloved local library will close its doors for the last time on 15th November.

"We are holding this public meeting to listen to the community and see what library services can be provided in Churchtown and the surrounding area in the future."

News from Friends of Churchtown Library

Here is the recent newsletter from the Friends of Churchtown Library (FoCL).

If you would like to join the Friends of Churchtown Library, please email me - Cllr Nigel Ashton, Acting Chair of FoCL, and I will pass your name on to our Secretary.

Lib Dem Councillors call for rethink on library closures

A group of Liberal Democrat councillors in Southport are calling on Sefton Council to rethink its decision to close Churchtown, Ainsdale and Birkdale Libraries.

Six Lib Dem Councillors representing the areas affected have used a special council procedure to "call in" the decision of Sefton Council’s ruling Cabinet to close the libraries. The matter is due to be reconsidered by the Council's Scrutiny Committee.

Sefton Council seem determined to close Churchtown Library

Cllr Nigel Ashton is a leading campaigner in the fight to save Churchtown Library. Cllr Ashton says "The Cabinet's decision to close Southport's three branch libraries is unsound and we are calling on the Scrutiny Committee to order the Cabinet to reconsider."

"The Friends of Churchtown Library, working together with our colleagues in Ainsdale and Birkdale, put together an excellent business plan to keep the three libraries open while making the financial savings required by Sefton Council."

"The Sefton Cabinet considered our business plan at their July meeting and rejected it without any real discussion. As a local councillor, I have led the referral of the Cabinet's decision to the Council's Scrutiny Committee (this is like an appeal in a legal case)."

Ainsdale Cllr Haydn Preece explains:  "Our main concern is that Sefton Council asked for the various library campaign groups to submit their final bids by early May. However the basis on which officers judged the bids were not decided upon until nearly 2 months later, on 2nd July. It is a case of moving the goalposts and it is simply unfair."

"Cllr. Iain Brodie Browne (Birkdale) added: "Imagine applying for a job and having to submit an application form before you have been shown the job description or person specification.  We have very real concerns that the Council is laying itself open to legal challenge for not acting fairly and transparently." 

Friends of Churchtown Library

Here is the latest newsletter from the Friends of Churchtown Library (FoCL).

If you would like to join the Friends of Churchtown Library, please email me - Cllr Nigel Ashton, Acting Chair of FoCL, and I will pass your name on to our Secretary.

The Champion news article about Churchtown Library can be accessed here.

Meols FOCUS newsletter

Here is the latest FOCUS newsletter from Meols Ward Liberal Democrats, which was delivered to residents of Churchtown, Crossens and Marshside recently.

Lib Dems welcome possible library reprieve

Liberal Democrat councillors in Southport have welcomed a three-month breathing space to allow a detailed alternative to library closures to be developed.

A verbal commitment to give library campaign groups time to bring forward detailed feasible and sustainable alternatives to closure was given by Councillor Peter Dowd, Leader of Sefton Council, at the Council's recent budget setting meeting.

However, the Liberal Democrats have expressed disappointment that Labour-controlled Sefton Council has decided to officially endorse Option B which proposes closing seven out of the Borough’s current thirteen libraries.

In Southport the campaign groups battling for Churchtown, Ainsdale and Birkdale libraries have already come together and submitted a ‘Joint Further Submission’ which was tabled at the Sefton Cabinet meeting held last week. 

The Liberal Democrats welcome the opportunity that has been given to local campaign groups to fully work their alternative approach, as it means there is still a chance to keep the three threatened Southport libraries open, including Churchtown Library.

Councillor Nigel Ashton said: “The recent ‘Joint Further Submission’ put forward by the Churchtown, Ainsdale and Birkdale library campaigns identified what we consider to be an achievable alternative to closure.  This uses volunteers and involves a small reduction in opening hours at the three branch libraries in Southport.”

“The three library campaign groups will be meeting together in the next few days to take our alternative forward.”

Latest Meols FOCUS newsletter

Here is the latest FOCUS newsletter from Meols Ward Liberal Democrats, which has been delivered to the streets of Churchtown, Crossens and Marshside.

Public Meeting Vows to Save Churchtown Library

Nearly a hundred people braved a frozen November night to protest against plans to close Churchtown Library. The public meeting, held at St Cuthbert's Church Hall in Churchtown last Thursday, heard passionate pleas from many residents to save the library.

Local councillors united to Save Churchtown Library

Meeting organiser, Cllr Nigel Ashton, explained how Sefton Council were consulting on a plan to close seven libraries, including Churchtown. Cllr Ashton told the meeting how he and fellow councillors had been fighting the library closure plan, through the Council and in the community.

Nigel Ashton said " We have been organising a petition through local shops and schools as well as online, and there are over 2,000 signatures already in support of keeping our library open. Children from local schools have organised their own demonstrations and banners in support of Churchtown Library, without any prompting. A Facebook page called Save Churchtown Library has also been set up by a local resident, which now has over 1,200 members."

Cllr Ashton explained how there was a viable alternative to the closure plan, called Option C, which would keep the entire branch library network in the Borough intact, including Churchtown. He urged everyone present to take part in the Council's consultation, so that the cabinet were left in no doubt about the strength of feeling.

Many of the people at the meeting spoke of the benefit of the library to the community. The loss of the library would be severely felt by many groups, including people with disabilities, children, elderly people, those who needed the Internet to access benefits or seek jobs, and many others. The long term effect on health and wellbeing could easily outweigh the cash saving of closing the library. 

The meeting also heard from the other councillors present, who were united in fighting to save the library, David Rimmer, John Dodd, Marianne Welsh, Pat Keith and Sue McGuire.

Nigel Ashton then proposed that the meeting should set up Friends of Churchtown Library as a group to take the library campaign forward in the short term and to provide support and help to Churchtown Library in the long term. This was unanimously agreed.

You can sign a petition to save our libraries here

Take part in Sefton Council's library consultation here

 

Keep Our Libraries Open - Nigel Ashton Tells Councillors

Cllr Nigel Ashton spoke at the recent meeting of Southport Area Committee to urge fellow Southport councillors to reject Sefton's proposed library closure plan.

Speaking to a report that he had prepared jointly with Cllr Haydn Preece of Ainsdale and Cllr Iain Brodie Browne of Birkdale, Nigel Ashton explained how over 90% of people in Meols Ward would be more than two miles from a library if the closures went ahead.

Library campaigner Cllr Nigel Ashton

Here is what Cllr Nigel Ashton told the Southport Area Committee:

"Thank you Chair. I want to speak specifically about Churchtown Library, but I'm not playing one community off against another. It is vital to keep the whole branch library network open.

"Our report shows how many people would live more than two miles from a library if Option B goes through and Churchtown Library is closed. Just within my ward, Meols ward (Churchtown, Crossens and part of Marshside) 11,500 people would be more than two miles from a library.

"That means 90% of people in the northern end of Southport more than two miles from a library - that is not a 'comprehensive and efficient' library service, and it's certainly not acceptable.

"What sort of people use Churchtown Library – well, all sorts of people, obviously. But two groups in particular are most important – children and the elderly.

"Churchtown Primary School is the 7th largest primary school in the country, with a current school roll of 891 pupils. The school has close ties with the library and classes are often taken on visits to the library. Older children use the library to learn about a wide variety of topics.

"Churchtown also has a high elderly population and for these elderly library users it is more than just a place to borrow books, it's a place where they go to meet others. For many it is a highlight of their week to go there.

"And the library is not just about lending books, whether standard print, large print, or talking books on tape or CD. The library also lends DVDs, has Internet access, newspapers and magazines for adults and teenagers, quick-reference and local history sections, and lifelong learning opportunities.

"Internet access is becoming a vital role for branch libraries, as more and more official services are accessed online, and increasingly are only accessible online.

"I wholeheartedly urge all councillors on the Southport Area Committee to support the recommendation that Sefton Cabinet reverse its proposal to close Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown Libraries."

Public meeting called to save Churchtown Library

A public meeting has been called as part of the campaign to save Churchtown Library from closure. The meeting is on Thursday 29th November at 7pm and is being held at St Cuthbert's Church Hall, Botanic Road in Churchtown (next to St Cuthbert's church).

The meeting has been organised by councillor Nigel Ashton, who represents Churchtown.  Cllr Ashton said "This meeting has been called to let members of the public have their say. I hope as many people as possible will come along in support of Churchtown Library."

Cllr Ashton added "There has been a tremendous response from people throughout the area who want to save their local library. Hundreds of local residents have already signed the petition to keep the library. Most of the shops in Churchtown have taken petition forms for their customers to sign, and local schoolchildren have been organising their own protests."

"I also hope at the public meeting to set up a Friends of Churchtown Library group, along the lines of the very successful Friends of Ainsdale Library. Anyone who wants to be involved in the Friends of Churchtown Library should certainly come along on the 29th of November."

"I also urge everyone to take part in Sefton Council's official consultation on the library proposals. The consultation can be accessed online through Sefton's web site and consultation forms are available from libraries and the Town Hall."