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Community News

Uncertain future for Swindon’s libraries as they face 60% cuts

It has been described by council become sustainable for the future.
chiefs as only ‘the start of the This could come in the form of
conversation’ but already the building sharing, volunteer groups
dreaded word ‘closure’ is being or even working out how to make
whispered across the town. them commercial assets by bringing
Rumour and uncertainty is in new income streams.”
rife but what is certain is that Over the past few months a needs
Swindon’s library budget will be cut assessment has been carried out
by 58% over the next four years. looking into how each library is
And there will be heavy job losses run. The council is putting forward
amongst the current 70 employees an initial proposal for a core service
of the Library Service. provided at the Central Library as
At its February meeting Swindon’s the vast majority of residents, 94%,
cabinet agreed to launch a six live within four miles with the rest
month consultation on how £1.5 living within nine miles. This could
million of cuts to the borough’s be enhanced by a reduced level
library budget will be made by of targeted services and support
2020. The current budget is £2.6 to areas with the highest level of West Swindon Library based at The Link Centre
million per year. need.
With a very real axe hovering The council will also be talking Link Comment: The final chapter?
above the services, the people of with local people to develop
Swindon are now being asked to alternative approaches and They say that the pen is mightier literacy levels but also with their
come forward with ideas on how ideas. Community groups will than the sword but in this instance role as an IT centre - enabling
these savings can be made. be encouraged to develop Local as Swindon’s libraries face those from deprived areas a means
A cut of £300,000 has already Community Service Points for unprecedented cuts - the sword of accessing services they would
been allocated for 2016/17 from library and other community of austerity is proving to be a lot not be able to reach otherwise.
the libraries budget but it has not services. The council will also work mightier than the pen. At the same time we are also
been decided at this stage where with six pilot areas and other areas For a child, and for a huge seeing the council offloading its
those savings will be made. where interest develops in order to proportion of adults, a book can heritage assets like Lydiard, with
Councillor Garry Perkins, the develop the new strategy. be many things - a magical object the process for Steam, Coate and
cabinet member for libraries, said: Library provision is one of the that transports you to another other parks to follow swiftly after.
“No decisions have been made yet. services which local authorities world; a source of great knowledge; It’s hard to blame Swindon
We want to look at all the different have to provide as part of their or even a friend that enfolds you in Council when you consider
ways that libraries can be used to statutory obligations. its comforting pages. the bigger picture. Every local
Books can change the world or at authority in the country is being
least let you know a bit more about forced to fall into line with less
how the world works. We should and less money coming from
not underestimate the power of the Central Government. It’s a national
written word and its importance in problem as chancellor George
our modern society. Osborne continues to bang the
With the council proposing nearly austerity drum dragging our society
60% cuts to the library budget, backwards with it as we lose more
however much we try to cushion and more services.
the blow by boxing clever with But short of changing the
space and the use of volunteers, ‘austerity narrative’ and swapping
the library service will definitely be it for a lot more rosy ‘stimulus
worse off. We’re now ‘starting the narrative’, all we can do in Swindon
conversation’ to see exactly how is our best. We can do this through
the axe will fall. good ideas and putting ourselves
But the most dangerous aspect of forward to make sure that the
all of this is the possible impact on damage done to our libraries and
the future of Swindon. other services is minimised as much
Libraries are a lifeline to huge as possible.
swathes of the community helping As there are some things, like
FULL MARKETING on 13 property websites including Zoopla, Rightmove with social mobility not just with books, that are important.
and Prime Location, Video Tour, Floorplan
Conduct your own viewings Council tax set to rise this year
Council tax is set to rise by 4 At the same time the policing
per cent from April - the biggest part of the bill will go up by £3.12
increase in five years. per year for the average Band
Swindon Council has opted to D property, which represents an
take the maximum 2% allocation increase of 1.9 per cent.
as well as a further 2% increase The Shadow Dorset & Wiltshire
allowed by Government to help Fire and Rescue Authority approved
local authorities pay for adult a budget of £54.815 million to run
social care. the new Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and
Band D properties, those on the Rescue Service in 2016-17. This
Call: 01793 522669 mid-range, will see an increase means that all Band D properties
Email: [email protected] of £50 from April 1 as part of the in Swindon and Wiltshire will pay
Swindon Council precept. £69.21 per year from 1 April.
4 swindonlink.com n March 2016