Friends of Pevensey Bay Library (FPBL)
media release, 13 December 2015
PERHAPS THE ability to respond quickly and flexibly to local issues when they arise, is the true test of any council genuinely wanting to work in partnership with local communities—Friends of Pevensey Bay Library, 13 December 2015
Several months ago residents were thanked by Cllr Dowling, lead member of the county council for community services, for their patience over the prolonged closure of Pevensey Bay Library due to arguments with the owner over responsibility for the flood damage, but several months later there is still no news as to when the library will re-open.
But how suitable is this library for the 21st century? The council took out the lease decades ago in the 1960s when the issue of public buildings being accessible to all was seldom on the agenda. It has a steep flight of eight steps leading to its basement location and, as is now clearly the case, it is prone to flooding.
Recently published information on the users of libraries in the county shows that 65% are over 65. Pevensey and Westham however, has a higher percentage of retired people and long term sick and disabled people compared to Wealden as a whole. According to Wealden District Council it has 440 disability living claimants and its ranking for the number of residents self-assessed as in very bad health is 3 (out of 35) within Wealden as a whole. The library is hardly easy for mums with pushchairs to access either.
Back in June, the county council told the Herald that it was actively exploring options for alternative sites but no results of this search have ever been presented for residents to comment upon. A temporary book exchange in the dark, rather cold hallway of St Wilfrid’s Church has been provided as a welcome temporary measure, but no effort appears to have been made to find a suitable alternative library site.
Bearing in mind that according to the county’s own figures, two thirds of all users visit the library for pleasure, including visits aimed at providing leisure and enjoyment for children, this temporary arrangement in the church hallway, although welcome, is likely to have driven local library users away.
In recent months the county council’s library service has been pre-occupied by a strategic review intended to help find the £90m savings that are planned in council services over the next three years. It proposes to cut library opening hours and staff, but not to close libraries.
However, residents in Pevensey Bay have had to respond to the here and now of what is happening in their community – the auction sale of the Beach Tavern advertised as a potential supermarket site. The quick response of residents to nominate the site as an Asset of Community Value with a view to it becoming an accessible library site has been supported by Huw Merriman, MP. Now, the auction sale has been postponed.
Will other local politicians be astute enough to recognise that this is an opportunity that needs to be explored further? While the strategic review of library services, which is to be considered by the Cabinet Meeting of ESCC on 15 December, continues, so does real life in Pevensey Bay where events may not conveniently suit the timetable for the county council’s strategic plans.
Perhaps the ability to respond quickly and flexibly to local issues when they arise, is the true test of any council genuinely wanting to work in partnership with local communities. The Localism Act 2011 is intended to encourage ‘community-focused, locally-led action’ to secure assets that have future benefit to the community but it also requires councils that are responsive to the needs of their communities, willing to explore alternative ways of delivering services.
A third of all users in the county visit their library for reasons other than exchanging books e.g to use the computer, to use reference materials, to read newspapers and journals, for training purposes, to attend rhyme time and to raise queries such as how to apply for a bus pass or blue badge. A visit to the local library is free, pleasurable and sociable. Where modern accessible libraries are provided locally, even given increased home use of the e-library, evidence in the county shows that membership levels soar. They are the flagship of the library service.
After all the aggravation caused by flood damage and the inconvenience of the steps that lead to its basement location, surely Pevensey Bay can expect replacement library facilities fit for the 21st century similar to that provided elsewhere in the county.
The next meeting of Friends of Pevensey Bay Library Group is on Friday 18th at 7:00pm in the Ocean View Café, Pevensey Bay. All members and supporters are welcome. If you would like to help, the group, whose membership is growing, can be contacted at .
