VB reader Becca Cameron-Robson, Freshwater sent us a copy of a letter she has sent to all councillors.
Becca discovered some interesting facts about the history of Freshwater’s library. Ed
I am very concerned about the threat of the closure of Freshwater Library.
The library was opened on the 16th November 1939 as the West Wight Branch of the County Seely Library.
In the opening booklet it was stated, “that it would enable it to play a very important part in the educational system”, “especially in the facilities for after school and adult learning” “in the library, the art of reading and study, acquired in school, can be applied to the study of the literature of the arts, trades and professions, to the intelligent judgement of public affairs, and to the acquisition of a wide fund of general knowledge”, “In a democratic state the provision of these facilities for informal education is a matter of National Importance. It is perhaps worthy of note that the least costly form of public education is provided by public libraries”.
These words still strongly apply to today and it is as important today as it ever was – even with the age of the Internet and computers.
The library is always a hive of activity and is well used across the community. It is used by children and schools, by adults finding information or looking for jobs and by the elderly. The library not only has books but there are computers/Internet, story times during the week/holidays and visiting Authors, events, DVD’s, art and displays, information points and various organisations hold surgeries, photocopying and fax services.
Libraries provide free learning support
I read with children and they start with books not computers – stories are found in books and most people do not read fiction books on line. With the rising and high seasonal unemployment there needs to be this free learning support.
Sadly not everyone can afford or has access to a computer/Internet on the island and the Library can give this valuable support.
Leave the library where it is
The Freshwater library is in a super location and purposely built for the job – it was built with large grounds to enable it to be expanded.
The library already has lost some of its land in 2003 to make an access road to new houses, namely Dall Square. The council have talked previously of moving it to the Youth club again is incredulous as that would still involve more costs. Leave the library where it is!
The Council should be supporting the Libraries.
First county library
The County Seely Library had a strong claim to be considered the first county library to be established in the country.
It was founded in 1904 through public spirit and generosity of Sir Charles Seely, 1st Baronet. I am shocked to think that the Council could even consider closure of not only the Freshwater Library but also the other community libraries.
How is this an Eco Island?
I have looked at the useful tool on the IW Council Website regarding balancing the budget and the choices to be made.
To cut the libraries/ leisure/toilets would be a disaster to the community, short sighted and a false economy in the long run. Closing the library in Freshwater will have a terrible effect on children, elderly, disabled and jobless.
The severe bus cuts and huge hike in fares from the West Wight have already had a major impact on the same groups. Even with those able to drive the rising fuel costs make travelling to Newport prohibitively expensive. I thought we were supposed to be a tourist resort and an Eco Island. There has been nothing Eco in any of these proposals! And the tourists are welcome as long as they don’t want to wee!
Decrease adult social care instead
The only way to balance the books that I can see is to decrease Adult Social Care. This is a hugely more significant sum.
It seems unfair that our children and community lose out to the huge influx of retiring adults that move over here away from their family support and expect our council to pick up the tab on their care.
This unfairly seems to come out of our budget. This is the fact that needs to be looked into urgently in my opinion. None of us can avoid ageing and many cannot fund care.
I do think the Council should be able to fund those who truly have no-one and no resources but the government should make a special allowance for the number of elderly we have here.
Chase European funding
The council should stop wasting our precious resources on yet more consultation documents to close our services.
The Council should have had for foresight and looked into European funding. They should be fighting for government funding and applying for European funding with the help of our MEP’s. Our poor statistics tick all the boxes to receive European funding why is no one claiming this money for us?
I believe we should be entitled to many types of social, economic and physical regeneration grants.
Becca Cameron-Robson, Freshwater
Image: © Google Streetview
