Moray and Banffshire public fight to save libraries
Campaigners across Banffshire are ratcheting up the fight to save the region’s libraries.
The community facilities in Keith, Burghead, and Cullen are amongst seven facing the axe from Moray Council. In Macduff a similar threat comes from an organisation called Live Life Aberdeenshire, which runs the service for the council, and is looking to close 13 libraries.
Speaking about what her local library means to her community, Mary Philp, a retired legal professional, said: “This issue has brought the whole town of Keith together and really galvanised folk.
“I think the council have been a bit taken back about how strong the reaction has been.
“If we were ever complacent about our library we’re certainly not now.”
Ironically, the Keith protestors have been told by Moray Council they are no longer allowed to meet inside the library in case they disturb other users.
However a well-attended protest meeting was instead held at another venue, North Kirk Hall, on Monday. In addition, a page set up on Facebook called ‘Save Keith Library’ already has 419 members.
Protestors were out in Burghead at the weekend to let their feelings known.
Meanwhile, in Cullen last Thursday evening seasoned Moray libraries campaigner Vivien Hendry addressed the crowd about the proposed closures through the PA system at the town’s Christmas Lights Switch-on.
A thousand people – a quarter of Macduff’s population – have already signed an online petition in support of that library.
In addition, many others will have signed paper copies which campaigners have distributed around the town but are still to be counted.
The petition was started by Natasha Watt, a personal trainer who lives just around the corner from Macduff Library.
She said: “There’s been surprise in official circles at how much pushback there has been.
“There’s been no public consultation or attempt to engage with the public at all.
“But if anybody thought that they could somehow sneak this through without people caring, then they’ve been proved wrong.”
Natasha’s petition can be found online at change.org
Opposition politicians in Aberdeenshire have expressed incredulity that the first they heard about the proposed closures – earmarked for the end of the year – was in the press little over a week ago.
However, Laurence Findlay, the council’s Director of Education and Children’s Services, said the local authority’s “strategy for the modernisation of library services” has been in place for a number of years.
He added: “We have been very open about the acute financial challenges facing Aberdeenshire Council.
“While a core network of library buildings remains firmly part of our plan, the fact is we cannot fund our full estate in the light of changing customer habits and falling footfall.
“This has caused us to think long and hard about changes that can be made to reduce costs, whilst maintaining critical services for those who need them most.
“Over the past year, we’ve had an ongoing programme of engagement with communities to help shape the future delivery of local library services.
“We do accept that for those communities who have not yet had the chance to discuss their local library services that this news has caused concern, and for that we apologise.
“Part of our focus is to explore how we could support the continuation of activities such as Bookbug sessions and ‘knit and natter’ groups locally, potentially in alternative venues or in partnership with existing community groups.
“We will continue our programme of local discussions before taking proposals back to our area committees for their input, and thereafter bring a report before Communities Committee for a final decision.
“We have to recognise, though, that as soon as possible and by the end of the financial year at the latest we will be looking to end the use of a number of our library buildings and make them available for other possible uses.”
Besides Macduff, the other libraries under threat in Aberdeenshire are Balmedie, Boddam, Cairnbulg, Cruden Bay, Insch, Inverbervie, Kintore, New Pitsligo, Newmachar, Newtonhill, Rosehearty and Strichen.
Moray Council has also cited financial pressures as the reason behind its proposals to close Cullen and Keith as well as Burghead, Dufftown, Fochabers, Lossiemouth and Tomintoul.
If all seven sites were to close it would leave Moray with only four libraries – Buckie, Elgin, Forres and Aberlour.
On November 11 the council created its own consultation document to ask the public what they think. The deadline to reply is just five days away on December 1.
After initial connection problems for people trying to view online, it is now available at surveymonkey.com/r/Libraries_budget
Paper copies can now also be picked up from the libraries.
Moray Council estimates the closures would save £376,000 on staffing and other costs.
In addition, it would look at selling Dufftown and Keith to generate extra income in order to help plug a £4.8 million gap in its budget this financial year.
Off-setting the savings would be costs of around £100,000 to extend the opening hours at Aberlour plus invest in the council’s community outreach service.
Kathleen Robertson, the leader of Moray Council, said of the proposals: “We’ve been clear throughout our budget setting process that service redesign is inevitable in order for us to make the savings we need to balance the budget.
“However, this is also an opportunity for us to make sure our services are transformed to deliver a modern, sustainable offering to communities in the way they find useful.”
