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

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

Storytime is back

Storytime and Rhymetime return following the closure of Churchtown Library thanks to the efforts of North Meols Library Association and Marshside Methodist Church.

Come on a bear hunt with Crossens the Bear when he starts storytime on Tuesday 14th January, 9.15 at The Methodist Church on Rufford Road.

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.

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."

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."

Conservative councillor votes to close library in his own ward

A bid to send Bootle Labour’s Library closure plan back to the drawing board has narrowly failed. In a shocking development, Conservative councillor for Ainsdale, Terry Jones, voted with Labour to say that closing Ainsdale Library was a sound decision.

Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown Libraries are all under threat of closure in Southport.  Birkdale Lib Dem councillor Iain Brodie Browne and four fellow councillors used a special council procedure to 'call in' the closure decision made earlier in October.

Campaigning in the winter of 2009/10 to secure Southport town centre library

However their attempt to persuade Sefton Council’s Scrutiny Committee to force the Bootle Labour-dominated Cabinet to reconsider was defeated – with Ainsdale’s Tory councillor Terry Jones voting with Labour.

Cllr Brodie Browne commented: "Local residents were quite rightly appalled at the original decision.  We are particularly concerned that a number of sensible alternatives have not been adequately worked out or costed – options like community managed libraries and the possibility of greater use of volunteers."

"Lib Dem councillors called this in because we have serious doubts about the soundness of the decision taken on 11th October by the Bootle Labour Cabinet.  What is absolutely staggering is that Ainsdale Conservative councillor Terry Jones voted to agree that he was not concerned about the Labour decision."

Ainsdale Lib Dem councillor Haydn Preece was one of those who signed the ‘Call-In’ and he attended Thursday’s meeting.  He added: "I just don’t understand what Terry is up to.  His actions are an absolute kick in the teeth for the thousands of Ainsdale residents who have already mobilised to try and save our library."

Latest Meols FOCUS newsletter

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

Library Service consultation

Sefton Council are consulting on the future of the library service. It is important that as many local residents as possible make their views known - especially if you use our local Churchtown Library. Please fill in the questionnaire on the Sefton Council website using this link

Library questionnaire is here

The Council says on its website "At this stage of the review we wish to seek information about how you use the current library service, and at a later stage we will gain your views about some possible options and recommendations for the future. You can take part in this consultation by completing this questionnaire."

The first stage of the library service consultation ends on 10th July 2012.