Local residents are launching a campaign to help save Alderley Edge library, following the announcement in November that it is under threat as Cheshire East Council is considering closing it in order to save around £50,000 a year.
Councillor Craig Browne is chairing a meeting of the "Save Our Library Working Group" on Wednesday, 10th January at 7.30pm.
Cllr Browne said "Eight residents have come forward so far offering to help run the library on a voluntary capacity but we still need more help.
"So if anyone else is willing or able to offer even an hour a week going forward, and I'll be leading on example by that, please can they let me know."
Anyone interested in supporting the campaign to save the Alderley Edge Library is invited to come along to the meeting on Wednesday, 10th January, starting at 7.30pm, in the Belmont Room which is upstairs in the Festival Hall.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
If the Local Authority (Cheshire East) own the Library site, would they sell it for £1 to the Parish Council?
Would that make a project to keep the library opan more feasible?
When the site was sold to P E Jones (Contractors) limited for redevelopment in 2002, part of the deal was that the ground floor of the new building was to be used by Cheshire County Council as a library. The purchasers entered into a covenant with Alderley Edge Parish Council (as Custodian Trustee of the Institute) on 9 December 2002 to the effect that the ground floor would be used for no other purpose.
The Deed of Covenant also provided that the ground floor could not be transferred to a third party unless that third party entered into a similar covenant with the Parish Council.
The ground floor was subsequently leased to Cheshire County Council, and the Lease, dated 23 January 2004, contained a similar covenant by the Council.
I hope the Parish Council will remind the County Council of its obligations with regard to the Library.
One answer to Caroline's question is to alert the current book supporters. I attend the Friday morning sessions - but was alerted - too late - to the meeting held by Craig via a friend of my husband.
Sustaining a library using largely volunteers has been successful elsewhere - so surely it can be replicated in Alderley! Thank you Craig for taking the lead at this vital stage in the process.