Readers will remember the On The Wight report last week that Ed Vaizey – the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries – concluded he is “not currently minded to direct a local inquiry” over changes to the Isle of Wight library service.
Before making his final decision on the matter, Ed Vaizey invited members of the public to ‘have their say’ with a deadline of 17 September 2012 to get your responses in.
One VB reader who goes under the name ‘Cynic’ immediately wrote to Mr Vaizey (see his letter below) expressing his concern over the changes.
Yesterday, our reader received a reply from Mr Vaizey’s office in which they state that “in the interests of fairness and generosity an extension of time to submit representations will be allowed until 5 o’clock on 31st October 2012.”
Have your say
If you have something to add, email your points to [email protected] by 31 October 2012.
Cynic’s email to Ed Vaizey
I write to complain that the Isle of Wight Council was wrong to close the Library in Bembridge, not only one of the largest villages in the UK but also with a substantially higher than average retired population that makes regular use of library facilities for social, recreational and educational purposes.
The following statistics demonstrate that the number of visits is 184% the average visits/library in the Isle of Wight and the number of books issued is 166% the Island average.
I urge you to launch an inquiry. The Community Library is struggling to cope.
Response from Ed Vaizey’s office
Thank you for your email of 4 September to the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, Ed Vaizey MP, expressing concern about library closures on the Isle of Wight.
Your letter has now been passed on to the libraries’ policy team in the DCMS as they are responsible for monitoring and assessing all correspondence to the Department on library services.
On 3 September 2012 a letter was issued on behalf of the Secretary of State stating that he was not minded to intervene by way of a local inquiry into library services on the Isle of Wight. A period of 14 days was given for any further and final representations to be made on these matters.
The Department has now received many letters asking for a longer period of time in which to submit further representations in response to the ‘minded-to’ letters.
Whilst the Department considers that ample opportunity has already been provided for any representations to be made on the question of library services on the Isle of Wight; in the interests of fairness and generosity an extension of time to submit representations will be allowed until 5 o’clock on 31st October 2012. However this will be the final deadline for any evidence and final representations to be made to the Department. It is not intended that this October deadline will be extended.
In order to arrive at final decisions on the above mentioned, it is necessary to receive the totality of evidence on the material issues so as to enable a full and comprehensive review of it. We therefore seek full co-operation and expedition in serving any more evidence on Department for Culture, Media and Sport
the Department in relation to these matters. It is not necessary to repeat any representations already made.Yours sincerely,
Dempster Marples
Library and Arts Policy Officer
Image: Jontintinjordan under CC BY 2.0
