Campaigners hand in 800-name petition to save library

A PETITION of over 800 names calling for Blackfield library to be saved from closure has been handed to Hampshire County Council.

As reported in the A&T, the council is considering closing 10 libraries in the county, including Blackfield, Lyndhurst and Milford, as it looks at ways to save £1.76m by 2021. This is part of an overall £80m savings target.

The remaining libraries could also see a 15% reduction in their opening hours as part of a restructure of the service.

On Monday members of the Save Blackfield Library campaign group handed the petition of 802 signatures to Cllr Alexis McEvoy, who is the Conservative county councillor for the area.

A spokesperson for the group said: “Collected in just a few weeks, these signatures are evidence of the depth of feeling against the closure of this building of local residents.

“In closing Blackfield library, the projected savings are £22,000 per year - the second smallest saving of the 10 proposed closures. The building that houses the library, however, is freehold, as are eight of the proposed closures.

“Our assumption, therefore, is that HCC will sell the property and use the money raised to contribute 20% towards the budget shortfall. In fact, selling all eight freehold properties is likely to net more than the £1.76m budget cut.

"The closure of this library is, therefore, all about selling the building and not about the level of usage in the Blackfield community.”

The spokesperson added: “There are significant areas within this location which are recognised as being among the lowest 10% in the UK in terms of deprivation. Cutting this resource will further deprive these areas and mean that, yet again, the most vulnerable in our community will be hardest hit.”

Over 20,000 people responded during the 10-week consultation period on the library proposals, which has now closed.

The Tory-run council’s cabinet member for recreation and heritage, Cllr Seán Woodward, said: “Thank you to everyone who has so far taken the time to take part in the consultation.

“This has been a robust process, encouraging views from the widest possible range of people – as seen from the strong public response to the consultation.”

He added: “We remain absolutely committed to providing a high-quality library service, fit for the future, that responds to a new generation of library customers. The right thing to do is focus the resources we have on where they will be of most benefit.”

A final decision on the proposal is expected to be made in the summer followed by a further consultation on opening hours. Changes would be implemented this autumn.