Radstock's potential library move into the Co-operative Society building could be part of a radical shake-up in the way in which our local libraries are managed in future, very much like the police station closure decision (Page 7). The subject was debated in full on Monday evening this week, by Radstock Town Councillors, who were joined by B&NES' Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, David Dixon, and Divisional Director for Customer Services, Ian Savigar, on proposals to relocate the town's library.
B&NES Council was approached by the Radstock Co-operative Society last September to accommodate the town's library and the Council says it has been looking at the idea ever since. Officers defended the amount of time it has taken, saying that it was still not yet ready to consult with the public and wanted to be sure that it was a viable option before doing so. Town Councillors criticised the Council, saying that they felt the idea was almost 'a done deal'. It was also argued that the £11,000 saving that would be made from the move was a very small amount in comparison to the amount that is being invested in the new facilities in Keynsham as part of the town's regeneration project.
Cllr Dixon said: "At first, I thought this would be quite a new idea – yet Bath Central Library is now hosted by Waitrose. So it goes to show that the Council has experience with this type of agreement, which is safe and secure. Let's be honest – the future is bleak for some of these services, due to lack of Government grants. We could get away with providing one library across the authority – but that is not what the Council is about. "It is about providing services differently and in a better way. It is something we want to pursue, but we do need to talk to the wider community and understand its concerns."
The face of library services, under this model, would change and the move into a supermarket environment would mean that, potentially, the library could remain open during the Co-op's opening hours, seven days a week. B&NES Council is trying to push library services by making them more 'community based' in places, such as in Combe Hay, Larkhall and the Chew Valley, where the library is based in the local pub, for example. These models, such as the new Hub library, in Paulton, rely on volunteers and in some cases, self-service – so what happens to the staff? Midsomer Norton's library was also mentioned as 'under review', with ideas that it could be incorporated into The Hollies.
An important element to the Radstock move would be what would happen to the town's Children's Centre Services. Under the reshaping of these services, provided by B&NES, Radstock was meant to be kept as a 'hub' and main provider for Children's Services in the Somer Valley area. Campaigners are concerned that this move would either be detrimental or would mean the centre would need to be relocated. "To lose this building would be a fatal blow in the remodelling of Children's Services," said Councillor Eleanor Jackson.
George Donkin, President of the Radstock Co-operative Society, was also present at the meeting and addressed Town Councillors prior to the debate. He stressed the origins of the Co-op's intention. "Assuming this library move goes ahead, I want to assure you that we at the Co-op will work closely with the library to ensure services continue. Historically, libraries were always a key activity of early Co-operatives, but in the case of Radstock, the Working Men's Club beat us to it, incorporating a library and a reading room.
"The services which libraries provide are changing. The move has the potential to make books more widely available. Other activities would be welcomed in the building, as long as they could be safely accommodated in a commercial environment," he said. A site visit on 15th May is due at the potential library space in Radstock Co-op, to understand how it might be used – it is understood to be of very similar size to the current library. A public consultation would then be carried out, with the Council looking to sign an agreement with the Co-op by the end of June. However, B&NES' Divisional Director for Customer Services, Ian Savigar, said that due to the library and One Stop Shop opening in Keynsham, it is possible that despite signing an agreement, the Council may not have the resources to get Radstock's new facility up and running until the end of the year.
At the meeting, Cllr Chris Dando warned that, "Radstock is in danger of having 7,000 words for 'no'. It needs a plan that helps it move forward positively. I am quite content that what is being proposed is workable, but this community also needs to protect jobs. I am more concerned about the site, should the library move, and if it is to be sold to a developer, that the money is reinvested back into Radstock."
Cllr Anne Marie Jovcic-Sas labelled fellow Councillors' petition in recent weeks against the idea as 'premature' and 'antagonising'.
Defending the proposed venture and under criticism for not looking at other sites, Cllr Dixon said that the Victoria Hall had been discounted by library staff as too small and that, "Sometimes you have to grasp opportunities as they arise. We need to do things better, but cheaper, and think differently about how we could use the space. If we are moving the library, it needs to be for the better."