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A LEADING Thurrock councillor has called on the residents of Chafford Hundred to join together and help keep the area’s library open. Cllr Lynn Worrall, Thurrock Council’s portfolio holder for Community, Culture and Leisure was speaking at Wednesday night’s meeting of the cabinet. Members were discussing proposals for in-year cuts of £4 million which had included the proposal to shut the library, but allow it to continue for Chafford Hundred Campus and Primary School. Local councillor, Tunde Ojetola had asked cabinet for a change of mind and the council’s Leader, Cllr John Kent, allowed a 500-signature petition to be presented at the meeting. Cllr Worrall said: “Over the last week I have had direct and indirect requests to modify the original plan. Chafford Hundred residents have contacted me, elected members and library staff have asked me to consider keeping the public library open for at least part of the week. “I therefore propose that, while Chafford Hundred Library will not remain open as a full time public library, it will continue to serve as a public library for three half-day sessions a week.” She added: “I would hope that the library staff will consult with users to identify which three four or five hour slots each week would be the most convenient for as many customers as possible. “It is not possible at this stage to say when the new opening hours will come into force. It’s unlikely to be before November or December, thus there is time for Chafford Hundred residents to consider how they might wish to give some of their time to support their library on a voluntary basis … in line with the concept of the Coalition Government’s Big Society. “It may well be that with the help of volunteers the public library facility at Chafford Hundred could be open longer and its future be made secure.” Earlier, Cllr Worrall had explained that while the library was one of the busiest in the borough, examination of figures showed that it was mainly children who used it as numbers dropped dramatically in the evenings and during half term — it is also the only library in Thurrock where more children borrow books than adults.
A LEADING Thurrock councillor has called on the residents of Chafford Hundred to join together and help keep the area’s library open.
Cllr Lynn Worrall, Thurrock Council’s portfolio holder for Community, Culture and Leisure was speaking at Wednesday night’s meeting of the cabinet.
Members were discussing proposals for in-year cuts of £4 million which had included the proposal to shut the library, but allow it to continue for Chafford Hundred Campus and Primary School.
Local councillor, Tunde Ojetola had asked cabinet for a change of mind and the council’s Leader, Cllr John Kent, allowed a 500-signature petition to be presented at the meeting.
Cllr Worrall said: “Over the last week I have had direct and indirect requests to modify the original plan. Chafford Hundred residents have contacted me, elected members and library staff have asked me to consider keeping the public library open for at least part of the week.
“I therefore propose that, while Chafford Hundred Library will not remain open as a full time public library, it will continue to serve as a public library for three half-day sessions a week.”
She added: “I would hope that the library staff will consult with users to identify which three four or five hour slots each week would be the most convenient for as many customers as possible.
“It is not possible at this stage to say when the new opening hours will come into force. It’s unlikely to be before November or December, thus there is time for Chafford Hundred residents to consider how they might wish to give some of their time to support their library on a voluntary basis … in line with the concept of the Coalition Government’s Big Society.
“It may well be that with the help of volunteers the public library facility at Chafford Hundred could be open longer and its future be made secure.”
Earlier, Cllr Worrall had explained that while the library was one of the busiest in the borough, examination of figures showed that it was mainly children who used it as numbers dropped dramatically in the evenings and during half term — it is also the only library in Thurrock where more children borrow books than adults.
Date published: 22/07/2010 10:34:42
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