The demonstration organised by the Friends of Pevensey Bay Library is an opportunity for East Sussex County Council to show that the hard pressed local authority means business when it comes to the promise that the fortunes of the much loved facility will be returned to the community—Bay Life, 12 February 2016
We are told that Councillor Chris Dowling, the Lead Member for Community Services with East Sussex County Council, really cares about the future of the library in Pevensey Bay, and we have no reason to doubt either his sincerity or the merit of his claims that we will see the library return.
With 411 days elapsed since a hole was found in the floor of the library as a result of flooding, it is hardly any surprise to find that the community is coming together in a demonstration that will see the campaign featured in the press and media across the region.
The ‘small peaceful demonstration,’ essentially it would appear, as a photo opportunity, is the right way for the campaign to put their case.
The opportunity could extend to Councilor Chris Dowling.
If, as he appears to have said, he really cares about the library, then Saturday 20 February could also be an opportunity for him to meet with the community group and see what they have to say.
In West Wales, at a small campaign in Narberth, Pembrokeshire, the Friends of Narberth Library (a group of about 20 townsfolk), was astonished to see that at their demonstration on the steps of the small Methodist Chapel, that has been home to their library since 1908, that the Head of Cultural Services, Michael Cavanagh for Pembrokeshire County Council turned up to talk to the demonstrators.
Bay Life has been in contact with the campaign in West Wales since the Friends Group for their library was founded.
Lisa Taylor, one of the organisers of the demonstration, told us that Head of Cultural Services, Michael Cavanagh was ‘a really nice bloke”.
The contact between the campaign group and the County Council at the demonstration appears to have been a touchstone.
On January 16 this year, the Western Telegraph, the most authoritative source of news in the region, reported that, “a bid by a group of local people to save library services in Narberth has stepped up a gear.
“The Friends of Narberth Library have become a formally constituted organisation at a special meeting last Sunday night.
“Following support from the Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, the group has settled upon four main aims that it hopes will allow it to work with Pembrokeshire County Council and Narberth Town Council to sustain a library service for the people of Narberth and the many surrounding communities”.
Speaking to the Western Telegraph, Friends of Narberth Library chair, Marc Tierney, said: “I’m really pleased that the group has taken the next step – it gives us a mandate to move forward with discussions with Pembrokeshire County Council who confirmed last month that without our support the library would close.
“It’ll be a busy few months ahead, but we’re getting on with making plans to maintain a librarian-led service with the support of volunteers”.
Bay Life has also been in contact with Marc Tierney, organiser of the Narberth Library campaign. He is standing as an Assembly Member candidate in the forthcoming elections for the Welsh Assembly. He told us that one of the key points with the campaign moving forward has been to make links with all the authorities concerned.
The focus made by the Friends of Pevensey Bay Library has a similar approach and understanding of the issues concerned.
One of the fundamental points made by the group is that the issue is bigger than just Pevensey Bay and that by learning about other successful campaigns elsewhere, a great deal can be learned from sharing information and experience.
What is happening with Pevensey Bay Library is a generational shift. What is happening with libraries is also a countrywide shift.
The value of the friends group is not just that the campaign is looking at what happens with the next eighteen months and any review that might be taking place by the County Council, but what will happen for the years to come.
Their thinking is encapsulated in their call to see ‘a local library for the 21st century”.
The example of the campaign in West Wales, from a similar sized community (Narberth has a population of 2,106), shows what can be done when a local authority works with directly with local people.
Pevensey Bay Library serves a much bigger catchment area and the facility is utilised and much loved by four closely networked communities..
The opportunity for East Sussex County County to see that someone turns up on Saturday 20 February to talk with the demonstrators looks like an opportunity to build some useful community bridges.
The library here is in a different situation, but what appears to have been a touchstone situation in West Wales with the library, also began on the steps of the local library in a ‘small peaceful demonstration’.
A move by the County Council to meet the group could do so something to put some positivity into relationships between the local community and the County Council with regard to the issue of the library.
Without question, with nothing tangible happening in relation to the issue of Pevensey Bay Library over the last six months, trust for the County Council with the media releases that they have issued, has eroded.
There has been no communication from the County Council over the issue since 18 June 2015.
On 19 December 2015, a spokesman for East Sussex County Council told the Eastbourne Herald, “We are happy to meet with representatives of the local community to discuss ideas and opportunities”.
Here is an opportunity to meet with representatives of the local community .
East Sussex County Council, on 19 December 2015, was responding to what the Friends of Pevensey Bay Library had said on 13 December.
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
Friends of Pevensey Bay Library
Demonstration
Saturday 20 February 2016, 10:00am
steps of Pevensey Bay Library, Richmond Road, Pevensey Bay BN24 6AU
