Campaigners have accused council leaders of U-turning on their promises to protect Bath Central Library.
Bath Central Library is located inside the Podium | Photo © Roger Utting / Shutterstock.com
While in opposition, Liberal Democrats slammed the previous Conservative administration’s multi-million-pound plans to merge the Podium hub and the One Stop Shop.
But the Friends of Bath Library fear an unwanted sequel after proposals emerged to cut £126,000 from Bath and North East Somerset Council’s libraries budget over the next two years.
The proposals include “the relocation of some information services into Bath Central Library”, although leaders have downplayed the impact and say the building is being improved.
Friends group member Gill Kirk said: “We want to help the administration keep its promises.
“The Liberal Democrats were so vocal about protecting our libraries during the run up to the last election and were as adamant as we were that merging Bath Central Library with the council’s One Stop Shop was a nonstarter.
“So we have been surprised and disappointed that they seem to be u-turning on this and it feels a bit like Groundhog Day to be having the same debate.”
The group said government guidance is “crystal clear” that the public should be consulted “at an early and formative stage in the process” before council services are co-located in libraries.
Former Bath Central Library manager and friends group member Andy Halliday said: “Now is not the time to be reducing library services, especially in our purpose-built very popular public library in The Podium.
“What we should be doing is investing in stock after years of cutbacks, more promotion of hireable spaces, increased provision for growing numbers of housebound, but still, very keen, readers, alongside recruiting dedicated library oriented staff.”
He said the One Stop Shop is well located in Manvers Street and moving services should not compromise the library.
The council’s presence in Lewis House is being reduced as it becomes a new police station for the city.
Speaking in 2017, now Lib Dem deputy council leader Richard Samuel slammed the Conservatives’ “fake consultation” on merging the library and One Stop Shop.
He said: “The worst thing of all is that the council is planning to spend millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money, some of which it plans to borrow, implementing this flawed project when the money would be better invested in providing a top class library Bath can be proud of.”
The proposals were met with widespread opposition and numerous protests.
Councillor Samuel, the cabinet member for resources, told a scrutiny panel meeting: “Post-pandemic we are looking at quite a lot of customer change in terms of the way people want to interface with the council.
“The task we have is to make sure that the services we offer and how people can get to them is now appropriate for the changing needs.
“The possibility is being flagged up of the placement of some services within Bath Central Library but my understanding is this would be fairly marginal to the operation of the library and certainly not a substantial change that would require a change in planning.”
The £126,000 saving proposal also includes a review of “service delivery options” for the libraries in Keynsham and Midsomer Norton, and a review of how the mobile library operates.
Cllr Dine Romero, the cabinet member for children and young people, communities and culture, said in a statement: “We are wholly committed to a flourishing library service and to a thriving Bath Central Library.
“While the council’s budget proposals include a reduction in customer services spending of £125,000 over the next two years, we’ll deliver this through efficiencies and this will not have a negative impact on library provision at Bath Central Library.
“In fact, we’re improving the library. We’ve installed new lighting and laid new carpet and a fuller refurbishment will take place in 2022/23.
“We are considering some additional services to residents from the library, where this makes sense and complements the core library provision.
“The advice we’ve received indicates that the proposals are not a material change to library use and would therefore not require planning consent.
“We really want to work with the Friends of Bath Library on improvements. We’ll also be undertaking a user survey soon to find out people’s views.”
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
