Councillors resist library closure plans that would leave villages ‘with black hole’

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Backbench councillors in Caerphilly have resisted proposals to axe ten libraries, telling decision-makers they should give communities more time to explore other options.

The mood at the council’s headquarters, on Monday May 12, was one of defiance as dozens of protesters gathered to voice their opposition to the cost-cutting plans.

Caerphilly County Borough Council wants to close ten smaller libraries and develop seven others into “community hubs” which combine other services, based on the success of a pilot project in Rhymney.

This would “deliver a modern and sustainable service to meet the needs of residents into the future”, the council claims.

But critics say those at-risk libraries are central to their villages, and closing them would leave many residents worse off.

These included Julia Rowe, who told the council’s joint scrutiny committee Machen Library is a “haven” for her family, including her daughter who uses a wheelchair.

“The library is the last public place standing – the heart of our village”, she said, alleging without such community assets Machen would “simply be the road through to Newport”.

Mairwen Parry, from Llanbradach, stressed how important the local library was for older people who may be lonely or isolated.

Connecting with others at the library “lessens the fear of dementia”, she said.

Lianne Dallimore, Caerphilly branch secretary for trade union Unison, said the closures would “leave many communities with a black hole”, and reminded councillors about the proud past tradition of miners opening and funding libraries.

“What would they be thinking now?” she asked.

Mariam Kamish, from the Caerphilly Trades Council, claimed the council’s proposal “doesn’t feel like democracy”, and said closing Abertridwr Library would “take away a quiet place to do homework” from village children who may not have the same resources at home.

Aber Valley councillor John Roberts said the at-risk libraries are “already a hub in their own right”.

Councillors Christine Bissex-Foster, Elizabeth Davies, Greg Ead, Colin Mann, Roy Saralis and John Taylor all made comments in support of either their local library or the service in general.

And Cllr Lindsay Whittle told decision-makers that asking the committee to vote on each library’s future amounted to “pitching communities against communities”.

“You either save all of them or none of them,” he added.

Cllr Carol Andrews, the cabinet member responsible for libraries, told the committee that if any of the at-risk sites were closed and then deemed surplus, they could later be offered to groups of residents interested in taking them over.

But Cllr Brenda Miles, whose ward includes Nelson Library, suggested this work should take place before a final decision on the libraries’ future.

A clear majority of the committee’s members agreed with her call to “defer the closure of all libraries and work with communities to bring forward detailed proposals for alternative library services”.

While the committee’s comments and indicative vote will be a blow to the council’s plans, it remains to be seen whether cabinet members will rethink their proposals on Wednesday, when they are due to make a final decision on the potential closures.