CAMPAIGNERS and councillors have pledged to “fight tooth-and-nail” to protect Hillfields Library after a review of the service was announced.
Bristol City Council initially proposed cutting £2.4 million from the service this year – almost half of its current £4.7m budget – raising fears that some of the city’s 27 libraries, including Hillfields, faced imminent closure.
The council then rowed back on the plan, using reserves to support the service until next year in its latest budget proposals.
Instead it will set up a taskforce to carry out what public health and communities committee chairman Stephen Williams described as a “root-and-branch review”, aimed at creating a “financially sustainable” service.
Council leader Tony Dyer said: “The simple reality is nobody in this city is satisfied with the library service as it is at the moment.”
Cllr Dyer said the cross-party working group would have to come up with a “realistic plan” for the future.
He said: “In many cases we have the physical buildings but they’re often closed, and often when people are most likely to want to use them.
“Even when the hours say they’re going to be open, if a member of staff is ill, the library is closed.”
Cllr Dyer said the taskforce “needs to look longer term into what the library service should look like, whether our libraries should just be libraries or whether there is the option for them to be used as a combination of things – community use, other types of uses”.
‘So much more than a place to access books’
Hillfields ward councillors Kelvin Blake and Ellie King said they would “fight tooth-and-nail” to protect the library.
They said: “Hillfields Library has become so much more than a place to access books and information.
“It’s the only community building currently open in the area, and provides activities such as Lego clubs, theatre, baby bounce, Silver Explorers – and so much more.
“A lot of these activities are run by volunteers, often on days when the library is ‘closed’.
“Its permanent closure would be devastating for our community.”
During a public health and communities committee meeting in January, Cllr Blake warned against closing library buildings.
He said: “Once bricks and mortar has gone, it’s gone, and you won’t be bringing it back in the future in communities.”
Cllr Williams said Hillfields library offered a poor service, because it is only open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
However, volunteer group the Friends of Hillfields Library already opens it up for activities outside general opening hours, including the Silver Explorers group on Fridays and Welcome Space on Thursdays between January and March.
Sarah Rogers, who helps run both groups, said: “It’s more than just a library – it’s a learning space, a welcome space and a craft space, for children, older adults, and people who are seeking to learn English.
“It’s such a vital asset – it’s too valuable to the community to close.”
Lollipop patrol cuts dropped
Plans to axe Bristol’s lollipop ladies and men have also been dropped from the latest budget proposals, which will go to a final vote by the full council on February 25.
Letters were sent to every school crossing patrol in January, telling them they were “at risk” of losing their jobs, sparking uproar from parents, children and teachers.
Pupils at Frome Vale Academy in Frenchay Road staged their own peaceful protest in support of their lollipop person in January.
It was arranged and organised entirely by children: more than 50 made banners and placards to demonstrate at the zebra crossing where they are guided across the road.
They also organised a petition against the plans, which had gathered more than 140 signatures as the Voice went to print.
Academy principal Jan Saunders said: “This is a great example of Frome Vale Citizens showing social action and demonstrating that they care about the problems and issues that are important in our community.
“Pupils have shown extraordinary initiative and teamwork, and it’s inspiring to see such young members of our community stand up for what they believe in.
“Their efforts are a powerful reminder of the importance of keeping our streets safe for everyone, especially children.”
Axing the patrols would have saved the council £314,000 a year, as it looks to plug a £43m gap between spending and income.
Plans to mothball three museums, axe all council funding for cultural groups and cut £3.4m from council tax benefits for the poorest families have also been put on hold, along with proposed charges for disabled car parking bays.
Cllr Dyer said: “Since first sharing the list of options for savings and increasing income, we’ve worked through the feedback received and amended this list to include in the current version of the budget.
“Some of those ideas included in the original long list of options will not be taken forward in this current budget but will remain part of the long list of options available to councillors to consider when setting future budgets.”
Includes reporting by Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service