The leader of Devon County Council has said plans for the county's library service 'won't please everyone'.
On November 28, the council's executive committee is likely to approve recommendations concerning the future of 12 libraries, four of which are in Teignbridge. Of those, only Kingsteignton is guaranteed a long-term future. Branches in Kingskerswell and Shaldon are to be given until next June to come up with ideas to make them viable or consider alternatives. In Ipplepen, the library will close on December 15, after the council cited overwhelming health and safety issues with the 'temporary' post-war hut in which it is housed.
It will be replaced with a mobile service and housebound library users will be supplied with books by the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS). Cllr Phil Cook, who represents both Ipplepen and Kingskerswell, said he would oppose the closure without a suitable alternative, although he agreed repairs to the present library 'would not be a good way of investing the council's money'.
Kingskerswell campaigner Neil Kelly said it was a 'non-starter' to consider moving the library to another venue and called on the county council to invest in the existing building. He said volunteers would be happy to help with non-specialised tasks and that with better signage more people would become aware of the library.
In Shaldon, Cllr David Cox was 'disappointed' that his library's future had not been secured, but added: 'At least this presents the community with an opportunity to come together and really think about how we can continue to provide a library service.' Chairman of Kingsteignton Parish Council, Cllr Jill Morris, said she was 'absolutely delighted' and praised the 'enormously good job' done by The Friends of Kingsteignton Library.
However, she vowed that a protest planned for County Hall on November 28 would still go ahead as a show of support for those communities whose libraries still faced closure. 'We have all supported each other really well this far and that will continue,' she said.
Cllr Greenslade said of the county's plans: 'It is a fair and balanced package, although it won't please everyone.' He maintained the service review was conducted in a bid to modernise and improve facilities, but without increasing the council tax burden. The council's overview and scrutiny committee, which met on Tuesday, criticised the lack of time it was given to discuss the closures and will hold a special meeting early next month.
It is likely that until that meeting takes place it will challenge any decision made by the executive and delay the final decision. Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross said he would use the extra time to argue the case for Ipplepen, where he hoped a 'suitable alternative venue' could yet be found, possibly as part of a new community centre. He also pledged to work for the best outcomes for both Kingskerswell and Shaldon where, he said, 'there is a lot of work to be done'.
l The county council has also announced a 'major' bid to the Big Lottery Fund which could net Newton Abbot Library anything up to £2 million with which to improve the service. Ground floor offices could be developed into public space and the cramped but respected Railway Studies Library benefit from improved facilities. Mayor Cllr Daphne Watts welcomed the news and said improvements to the library and other town centre regeneration projects meant the future looked 'really quite splendid'.