Views are being sought on the future use of the existing Caerphilly Library building, which is due to be closed next year when the new library opens in the town.
Labour councillors James Pritchard and Gareth Pratt want local residents to have their say on what kind of facility they would like to see replace the existing building, in Morgan Jones Park, and have launched a 30-day consultation running from September 9.
The consultation has been sent to Caerphilly Town Council, Residents Associations and the Caerphilly Access Group.
Morgan Jones Ward Cllr James Pritchard and Bryncenydd Town Councillor Gareth Pratt want the building to be restored for community benefit and will be knocking on doors throughout the Morgan Jones ward over the next month, speaking to residents.
Cllr Pritchard said: “The existing Caerphilly Library has been a public asset for decades, paid out of local taxes for generations. The public own the facility and this is why it’s crucial to ask the public for their views. Only by engaging with the public can you really achieve a sense of what the public want. This is what we will be doing.”
Cllr Pratt added: “I feel very strongly that this building, which has been a wonderful community resource for many years should remain in service to local residents for many years to come. I encourage local people to submit their views.”
To make your views known you can contact the councillors direct.
This is refreshing departure by elected members, i.e. consulting the electorate on issues in their communities, these two, young Councillors must to be acknowledged and congratulated for this effort on their part.
This is the first time I have experienced ANY Councillors taking on such a role in Caerphilly, I hope that this is a sign that Labour Councillor Pritchard and Labour Councillor Gareth Pratt are setting out their stall for the future, and good on them for taking this initiative, more `experienced` local Councillors must learn from these youngsters, but, will they? I dont think so. For that reason I predict These Two Councillors will build on their popularity of the wider Caerphilly town Community which was clearly evident at the last local elections.
I wish them all good luck in the support they are giving to the Caerphilly community.
Good to see local councillors actually consulting the public on matters like this. Such a welcome change so best of luck.
Well done Gareth Pratt and James Pritchard for initiating this consultation. I sincerely hope that they are sucessful in preserving the library building for public use. I have been a library member for 45 years and, although Caerffili has become too big for such a small library, I have fond memories of this building.
It may be new for Labour councillors but Plaid councillors have been doing this for donkeys years. By the way, isn`t this also the same Gareth Pratt that also stood in the Penyrheol by election and was soundly beaten and did not even turn up to the count. Isn`t it also the same Gareth Pratt who said he gets bored quickly with different jobs. Who does he stand for : Bryncenydd or Penyrheol residents? As for Mr Pritchard he seems to promise residents a lot but gets very little actually done
Jeff, only James is a youngster. Gareth is middle aged but it's not surprising he isn't that well know as he seems to lost the majority of elections he stands in.
This is the biggest piece of PR nonsense I have ever seen. They say they will consult the public and they will make it look like they are consulting the public but all views will be binned and they will do what they wanted to do in the first place.
Oh my. Plaid plaid plaid. Grow up and get a life. Why not join in and get something done for the community rather than bad mouth people. It's so childish and makes people not want to vote for you. Silly childish people!
Why try to keep a building that is falling apart not in any fit state to use … For example a cafe? The place is damp and old and should be knocked down and rebuilt. Were is the money coming from to pay for this? I've lived in this town all my life and have used the library since I was a child and same for my children now. I am excited to see the new library finally being built after years of Plaid campaigning. Be interesting to see how this all pans out!
Do you know. I used to think plaid were the party. I believed in a few of the councillors but of late I have seen such a ridiculous childish and pathetic side from SOME plaid councillors and their sheep, I mean supporters. Both Jamie and Gareth are genuine people who want to work for their community and I agree with beth. Time to grow up plaid. If you're that jealous of the work that goes on maybe it's time to do a little more. I can't believe the bitchyness that is politics. Work for the community as hard as you try to give others a bad name and we may just actually have a nice town to live in!
The clue is in the title. VIEWS saught! Not definite suggestions. Jamie and Gareth aren't saying that they intend to build something or create something. They are asking the public what they would like to see. I though that's what councillors did. Asked the community what would make the community better? I think some of you are quite deluded as to what the purpose of a good councillor is! It's definitely not to back stab the other party anyway!
Why does it appear that the councillors opposition are attempting to undermine what looks to be a good community engagement exercise? Just join in with the consultation. The people of Caerphilly should come before Party Politics.
Louise, you're point is wishy washy. "The clue is in the title. VIEWS sought!" Exactly! They seek them and immediately disregard them to do what they wanted to do all along. It's typical Labour. Especially Mr. Pratt who doesn't have an interest in the ward. He just wants to make himself look good.
Councillors should take the views of their constituents on-board an incorporate them into the final project. They shouldn't ask to go and do something completely different in the end.
Do you honestly think the two councillors mentioned here are doing what they do for their community?
Also, they give themselves a bad name for doing a rubbish job in an overly bureaucratic and wasteful council. It's time to take the politics out of the council. There needs to be more Independents but unfortunately, people vote for Plaid and Labour, not because they support those parties as quite frankly, they haven't got a clue what the parties stand for but because their parents did and their friends did so they feel as if they need to vote for them too. That's one of the reasons why Caerphilly has always had a Labour MP. CCBC can only start to improve when Independents break the LabourPlaid strangle hold.
Gethin, don't fall for the trap "…what looks to be a good community engagement exercise?"
We have seen it before. It's a PR stunt. They want to appear people friendly but they really don't care what we think…
Denise. Wishy washy. Hmmmm ok! As for doing whatever they wanted to do with the building in the first place. Good luck with that statement cause there are no plans for it yet. What exactly is the problem in people trying to find out what would be nice for tr community. I agree on the whole more independent councillors cause the party politics circus is beginning to grind me. I wouldn't allow and neither would James or Gareth deceive the community in anyway. I have known Gareth for over a decade and as for James well trust me I think I know him a lot better than anyone else on here!
Parties competing gets things done for the community! Play away children as long as things are achieved keep your childish back biting to your council chambers! As long as it benefits the community and your egos get a boost then it's a win win.
We need provisions for youths in the area…get some graffiti walls or a skate park…give them something to do that won't cost silly money to keep.
Graham, do you even live in Caerphilly?
"as long as things are achieved" Nothing is really acheived that couldn't be achieved with Independents.
"your egos get a boost" Part politics only boost the egos of those in the parties.
"We need provisions for youths in the area…get some graffiti walls or a skate park" You see the youth hanging around on street corners, talking. They don't want skate parks or centres to go to. They just want to hang out and talk somewhere alone. Hence the parks or street corners.
"give them something to do that won’t cost silly money to keep." Put more benches in the parks for them to sit on.
Solved…
I would like to try and briefly rebut some of the comments particularly by Dean, Denise and Huw (the latter of which I believe writes the official Plaid Cymru Caerphilly blog)
It's a real shame how people are so quick to say this is just a PR exercise and all suggestions will be binned. Firstly, we're consulting Caerphilly Town Council. This will be up for discussion at this months meeting. We're also consulting Residents Associations and the Caerphilly Access Group to gather views of Local people and for suggestions from a well recognised disability group. This is very important I think you'll agree.
As stated in the Press Release, we'll be submitting the responses to CCBC. As local members I think it's important we reflect public opinion and this is what we're seeking to do. There is no PR involved in this and responses will not be binned.
I would ask all those who are cynical to pause for thought and keep the Party Politics out of this. The public aren't interested in the squabbling that goes on between the parties. Please contribute to the consultation and try and make Caerphilly a better place.
Good to see the dangerous side of Plaid movers being displayed on these pages to be judged by the electorate.
The Plaid Cymru `don`t do as I do but as I tell you` brigade are roused from the prolonged coma they normally fall into between elections, and it took two young refreshing Labour Councillors to do it, again.
What these Plaid people do not understand is that everything a local Councillors does is for the benefit of the Communities which elected them, not, as it appears, in the mindset of un-informed Plaid Cymru supporting correspondents on these pages for Councillors to impose their preferences on us. As has happened recently when provisions for Disabled Drivers were removed from Caerphilly on not much more than a Whim of a local Councillor, we disabled people need to be able to park in and near the shops when we come into town for us and our families to shop, bank, pay bills etc. This will become more important again when the library opens, I would like to ask Councillors James Pritchard and Gareth Pratt what can they do about this?. It would also be interesting to know if any Plaid Cymru Councillors undertook the very same public engagement exercise these two Councillors are undertaking in respect to the Plaid Cymru Councillors support to remove and reduce short term Disabled Parking in the town?.
Labour Councillor James Pritchard and Labour Councillor Gareth Pratt are simply showing the rest how it should be done, regardless of what happens to the old Library Building they are determined, it appears, to see that at least their constituents have a say in the process. Plaid Cymru appear to disagree with that happening, and, sinisterly, they some of them also appear to have already thrown in the towel in considering the preserving of this building for community use, either in its current configeration or even by something more substantial.
Success on your campaign for consultation on this and the other projects you and your hundreds of community colleagues are working on in and around the Town of Caerphilly.
James Pritchard has been calling on Residents in the Bryncenydd area for quite some time now asking if there is anything he can do.
It's not a PR stunt James actually gets things done,I think a lot of people think that there's no point telling the councillors of any issues as nothing won't be done about it this was the case in the past but I am pleased to say that James Pritchard is different and he is a very good councillor and is keen to help.
James said it himself "…we’ll be submitting the responses to CCBC."
CCBC will not listen. They already have plans for the building. Anyone claiming they don't is wrong.
I was talking to an unnamed councillor (they signed a non disclosure agreement so I'm not giving them up…idiot) and originally a cafe was planned but the building is in bad condition so will be demolished and the land left clear until finding can be found for a replacement building.
I'll probably have James come back now and still deny that the building's future is undecided but let's wait a year or two and see what happens. We can return to this article and apologise to my anonymous councillor friend and I for being right.
Dean is talking complete rubbish.
The fact is that the Council are currently seeking the views of all its department heads to see if any of them will take on the property management of the building from Education the Leisure, for the future.
So, to suggest that Labour Councillors Pritchard and Gareth Pratt, in engaging with the community they represent on the same issues is what one expects from a ultra right wing bigot who`s agenda would be of course to know whats best for us all and not to ask us.
Dean is not in the know, and nor is his Councillor `friend`, though I doubt he has any `Councillor` friends in this area,certainly none that hold the same political views as he does, if he has he should tell us who that is and let us all be the judge of that elected members view on this subject, that wont happen of course because it is probably a figment of Dean`s vivid imagination on what is best for our communities as usual.
Dean. You are a very angry little man aren't you. You must really hate it that James and Gareth are actually doing things that engage the public. Put your claws back in for a while and let's just see what happens and like you said. In a few years time maybe you will be the one apologising! And if nothing does come of it. It won't be James or Gareth's fault. They are, as ive said previously JUST gathering ideas to put forward and I really don't see the problem in that at all! Neither will the public.
Why can't people just be glad that the two Councillors are asking people what THEY want? I really don't understand the logic in this argument at all! I remember using the old Library as a child and it is time for a new modernised Library I agree but I'm pleased that this building will still have a future, regardless of what it intends to be. Giving people their say is a refreshing approach and personal attacks on the very people who are trying to make things happen is a sad state of affairs. You can have YOUR say on the buildings future too!
You don't need to have the same views as someone to be friends with them.
You laugh at me now, and Im okay with that. I'll have the last laugh when the building is knocked down and the land is left empty against the views of the community.
You seem to relish the prospect of the old library being knocked down Dean? Why would that be?.
If the community want to make use of it, and these two Labour Councillors gather sufficient evidence that that is what the local inhabitants want, then the Council, which we elect, should take due note of that, including your Councillor ` friend`.
Why would anyone want to discourage two young Councillors, in their own time, and at their own expense from engaging with the very people who elected them?. It does`nt directly effect Dean who tells us he lives in the Penyheol ward, he will be able to use the new library like the rest of us, so what happens to the old building does not really directly effect him. And I would ask him not to use that old Tory chestnut that anything that cost the ratepayers money, and benefits the community, must be done away with.
The thing is Trefor, the new library will be covered by a private investor and rent will be payed on the land at roughly 15% market conditions (Margaret is apparently in the know on Lindsay Whittle's recent blog) So we end up paying more than we would if we built it ourselves and owned it.
I was very pleased to read this article and to see residents etc able to give their views/suggestions on how the old library building may be used. What I am not very pleased about is reading some of the immensely infantile, school yard comments on here.
Dear me! I am sure that there are more pressing matters to be had than bringing these poor guys down. I say let's see where it goes. Dean, if it does get knocked down and then you are indeed proved right and if not then James & Gareth will have achieved something wonderful for the community.
Sick if the squabbling in front of us guys. Do it behind close doors please.
I for one will be making my views known. Actually pleased to be asked for my thoughts. I usually vote Plaid but I don't see Plaid doing anything like this. My vote is now up for grabs.
Like Vic I am usually a Plaid Voter, and it is refreshing to be asked by a Councillor what my preferences are for anything.
The problem, and this is supported and confirmed by the people who have slighted the efforts of these two, refreshingly original Councillors, is that we are normally represented by people who are in it for what they get out of it, strutting the streets of Caerphilly town, chests out, pontificating on this and that whilst totally ignoring those in the town who also make a contribution to it being a thriving community. The old style, `I`m all right Jack` Plaid Cymru Councillors who`s main objective in life is to replicate the failed Guy Fawks, in THEIR attempts to spend our money, about six times a year, in blowing up the skies of the town with ever increasing loud explosions costing thousands of pounds of ratepayers money going up in smoke every time, whilst pensioners of the town struggle to pay heating bills and eat properly, not to mention the filth and detritus each such occasion brings and which costs us even more money to clean up.
It is a refreshing apart to see these young men doing what they were elected, by us to do, ( properly represent our views) at no additional cost to us already over charged ratepayers. I for one am sick of paying for Plaid Cymru`s childish playing about with fireworks whilst ignoring the wishes of the ratepayers and `doing down` the efforts of these two Labour Councillors. Get a life and get on with what you are paid to do I say.
Jo- I have just read your comment- ref- `these poor guys`.
I don`t think they are `poor guys` at all, I think they demonstrate strength and resolve, they demonstrate determination and commitment to the communities they were elected to serve. I am sure you did not mean that they needed anyone`s sympathy, I would say they stand shoulders above those who try to do them down on these pages for their efforts.
Would`nt it have been a good idea if Plaid Cymru Councillors in the town, and what supporters they have left, joined in the exercise and been ` positive` about it, but, to do so may have placed an increased burdon on them to do similar `work` and they would`nt want that by the sound of things.
It will be a shame if CCBC don't listen to the people of Caerphilly,I honestly think that they will do what they want despite the voice of the people.
I personally don't think it was a good idea to knock down Castle Street or The Miners Hospital.
What I do know is that James Pritchard knocks on people's doors asking is there anything that he can help with,I have NEVER known any other councillor do this unless its election time,it's great to know that we have a councillor who is willing to get out and about and do something,Well done James Pritchard .
Mark Drane- And so say all of us!!!
Jamie and I are engaging on this exercise because as Jamie has pointed out the old library building was funded and maintained by public funds and we believe the public should have a say in its eventual fate.I hope that regardless of political affiliation as many residents as possible will engage in this idea so that a suitable use for the building can be found. Jamie and I seek to represent all residents in our wards not just Labour supporters. Constructive engagement is far better than personal attacks against us by people who don't know us. We can't guarantee that your idea will happen for the old library building but we can and will try our best to ensure that it does.
Are you lot really believing the utter nonsense spouted out by the two councillors.
There is no free money. The building is damp and is in a very bad condition. It's beyond economical repair. It's cheaper to knock it down than it is to maintain it. It WILL be knocked down and the land left empty. FACT!
Your faces, when the council announces its destruction, will be a picture.
Whether it's right that the building is destroyed, or not. It WILL happen. Mark my words…
Dean. Maybe it will be. We're not saying it won't be. Jamie and I want to ensure that local people's views are heard.
As I have already written I fully support James Pritchard and Gareth Pratt in their efforts to consult the public. Whatever the outcome for the building they are to be commended for their effort. One thing missing from the comments is a suggestion for the future use, once the old library building becomes available, which is the point of the exercise.
I would suggest that part of the library becomes a new home for the Town Council office. Currently the Town Council occupies an office in the Twyn Community Centre. It is open for three mornings per week but its presence there denies the public the use of one room of what should be their community centre. I have always been against the office being house in rooms intended for the use of the public and a very senior Plaid Borough Councillor, I spoke with, agrees. At the time we discussed this there was no readily available office space but with the library shortly to become vacant I see no reason why the office cannot be transferred.
The library building is readily accessible with a bus stop nearby and free car parking on site and would provide an excellent office for the Town Council with the added bonus of freeing up a room for community use at the Twyn.
Gareth, you have flawed your own process.
"Maybe it will be. We’re not saying it won’t be. Jamie and I want to ensure that local people’s views are heard."
You have pretty much said that the building is going to be knocked down (it has to be as the state of it allows for little renovations and it's becoming dangerous) yet you are asking local people to make them feel as if their view counts (they don't as the building is going to be destroyed) which give a situation, where you stand to gain more from this than the local people.
Richard, I agree that the offices need transferring to another location but are you aware of the state of the soon to be, old library? It's cheaper to build a dedicated office building than it is to maintain that old shack.
Dean, you may well be correct and the library building may be beyond economic repair. In the absence of a surveyor’s report we cannot say. This does not alter the legitimacy of a debate on future use. The library sits on publicly owned land and people should be able to debate the future use. In nearly all cases the land value, particularly a quiet location at the edge of a park, is greater than the value of buildings. It is the site, in my view, that should continue to be utilised rather than sold off.
The ideal situation would have been to build the new library there as I have grave misgivings about the future cost, to the tax payer, of the new library. A decision has been made, for reasons I am not privy to, to house the future library in a new building on the site of the old post office. This being the case the public need to be involved in the debate on the fate of the old library. It is this debate that these two Labour councillors have, with some success, kindled. (No pun intended!)
I suppose you have a sense of deja-vu, Richard. I still remember the councillors promising people that the land at the Piccadilly where the old Church and tatty shop was will be put to good use. We all know how right they were about that…not!
Maybe it won't be demolished Dean. Presumably I'm now as good as saying that it wont be knocked down……
Different argument Dean, I don't think that the council were owners of the church; they are the owners of the land on which the library sits. I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a possibility that this valuable land might be sold off, to build yet more houses, in order to offset the bills that will start to roll in from the new library.
One thing that may prevent this possible course of events is a public outcry. That two councillors have encouraged debate is commendable in my view. I have absolutely no argument against involving the public, asking them for their views, getting them involved in future plans. In fact I would like to see more of it.
I have a feeling that both you and I agree on this. For instance is it not high time that we all had a vote on whether or not we wish the UK to be part of a Federal Europe? A bigger issue certainly than the fate of the old library but the same principle applies. If you don't make your opinions known then somebody will make the decisions for you.
I think we are viewing this in a different way. I like the idea of councillors asking people for their opinions. I would like to see AM's and MP's do it too. However, I don't like that they are asking for opinions when the outcome is a full on conclusion. The chances are, the old library will be demolished and the land sold no matter what.
At least with the referendum on a federal Europe, the government hasn't decided that the UK will be part of it regardless, and that the result will affect government policy.
If I could add to a little history of what I have been involved in, and what has gone on since the announcement of the new Library back 3 years ago and the fact what will the Council be doing with the old Library Building at Morgan Jones Park,
As Youth Champion working with the Young People involved in Caerphilly Youth forum I knew then that this could be an Ideal site for a Youth Centre run by the Young People of Caerphilly dealing with what comes to them at this time of their lives from Education and Family and Growing up issues to Further Education and Employment and loads of other issues that they have to deal with in the day and a much needed Youth Club in the evening next to the Park and on the bus rout it would be an ideal venue,
I have been informed that the Youth Service viewed the building about 10 weeks ago and they were told that the Parks Dept have also showed a great interest in it to put a cafe there because if the need to move up from a Green Flag Status to I believe a Platinum part of the criteria is to have a cafe,
I have also seen a Business Plan from a local businessman who wants the site again to keep as community use,
So that's what I have heard and been involved in whether or not it is all ready a done deal or any of the above happens I am not sure we can only wait and see on this matter perhaps we could do the same when the old Sports Centre Closes to and what could go there to ???
I like the idea highlighted by Cllr. Prew.
The park is used by lots of young people but some are put off by the idiots (minority) who frequent it.
There have been three good suggestions for the use of the current building. 1. Offices for the Town Council, 2. A café and 3. a Youth Centre. Could the current building be used to accommodate all three.
At the present time there is very little facilities for our Youths within the area. People complain and moan about Youths hanging out on street corners, wandering the streets etc, if there was a centre dedicated for them, surely it would be of great benefit to not only the youths themselves but to the community as a whole.
Also Dean instead of criticising at every opportunity maybe you could come up with a suggestion as to what the building could be used for rather then just say it will be knocked down due to its state of repair and would be deemed to expensive to repair.
Dean states the current library building is in a ` dangerous condition`, it is not, he says that the building is not suitable for refurbishment, it is, and such should be saved for community use.
Lou has hit the nail on the head, there are at least three good communal used suggested on these pages to which the building could be put.
All three suggestions have `merit`, the use of it as a dedicated office by the TOWN COUNCIL being by far the best, it would not only give the TOWN COUNCIL an opportunity to expand ways to serve the communities it is elected by, it would give them room to consider creating jobs for development and community workers to operate the building as a community facility who would also develop the other ideas of Cafe and youth club. The Town council are best placed to attract grants and Welsh Assembly money to create these jobs and facilities for local people.
Lets hope that Councillor James and Councillor Gareth Pratt are listening.