Page 6 - link magazine

Community News
Group formed to campaign for libraries

Campaigners from across the town in Highworth, North Swindon,
have teamed up to fight council West Swindon, Old Town and
plans to cut Swindon’s library Wroughton.”
budget by almost 60 per cent. The cabinet will discuss in June
The group, called Save Swindon the strategy to reduce library
Libraries, is holding a public meeting funding and a consultation period
on Sunday 10 April, 2pm to 4pm, will follow that decision.
at Christchurch Community Centre, Swindon Council is currently
Old Town. looking for as many people as
They have also launched a petition possible to come forward with ideas
to gather the 1,500 signatures to see what savings can be made to
needed to prompt Swindon Borough the service.
Council to debate the future of It is thought that the cuts will lead
Swindon’s libraries. to closures of some libraries and job
This comes after the council losses.
announced in February that the Councillor Garry Perkins, the Butterfly enthusiast Zara holds up her beautifull work of art
libraries budget would need to be cabinet member for libraries, said:
cut by £1.5 million over the next “We want to look at all the different A kaleidoscope of butterflies
four years. ways that libraries can be used to
This is a decrease in funding of 58 become sustainable for the future Children and adults from across “It makes you realise how
per cent and the council is currently from building sharing to volunteer Swindon came along to decorate important libraries are to
holding a town-wide engagement groups. The way libraries are used a butterfly at Central Library in a communities.”
exercise to find out how the cuts has changed considerably in recent week-long project in mid March. Gordon Dickinson, of organisers
should be made. years and our plans need to reflect Project poet Hilda Sheehan said: No Added Sugar, said: “It doesn’t
A budget cut of £300,000 has that.” “It’s been a great multi-cultural matter what age you are and where
been agreed for 2016/2017, to take Talis Kimberley-Fairbourn, of and inter-generational project you’re from, butterflies make you
place after the consultation period. Wroughton Library’s local campaign with an incredible range of people feel good. Everybody smiles when
Save Swindon Libraries’ chair, group, said: “We are encouraging keen to paint a butterfly. Some are they see them and they stop and
Highworth Library campaigner everyone to join the conversation simple designs and others are so look closely at the design and the
Sarah Church, said: “We want on social media, to visit and use intricate. We’ve seen so much talent lines of poetry on them.”
residents from all over Swindon to your local library – and help us and participation from under 5s The colourful kaleidoscope was
make their voices heard. There are keep them at the heart of all our to seniors, and several groups like unveiled on 17 March and can be
local campaigns already running communities.” MIND taking part. seen on the ground floor.

FULL MARKETING on 13 property websites including Zoopla, Rightmove
and Prime Location, Video Tour, Floorplan
Conduct your own viewings

Call: 01793 522669
Email: [email protected]

6 swindonlink.com n April 2016