Pangbourne bearing "unfair" share of council's cuts
The Conservative-controlled council announced earlier this month that it was looking to plug a £17m shortfall over the next three years, owing to a reduction in central Government funding.
Everyone will be affected by the proposed cuts, with £3m expected to be slashed from frontline services, including road safety, theatres, public transport and conveniences, care for vulnerable young people and support for disabled children.
Under the proposals, Pangbourne library hours could be be cut by 40 per cent, from 27 to 16, as the district council seeks to save £11m over the next two years.
Council figures state that 27,700 people visited the library last year, with 32,777 items loaned.
Elsewhere, Burghfield Common and Stratfield Mortimer could see library hours reduced from 21 and 22 hours to 16, while Hungerford, Lambourn and Thatcham could also see shorter hours. The council said that opening hours at Newbury and Theale will not be cut as they had recently experienced reductions.
The village could also suffer further from the wide ranging cuts as a subsidy reduction to the 132/133 and 74 bus services is being proposed, as well as a withdrawal of funding for the public toilets in the village hall car park and recreation ground.
Parish council chairman John Higgs said: “In our view, bearing in mind Pangbourne’s geographical location and our role as a rural service centre for surrounding villages, and visitors and workers who also benefit from the village’s services, Pangbourne is being unfairly treated by the proposals.”
He added that the parish council was exploring alternative ways of paying to maintain the toilets.
The Conservative district councillor for Pangbourne, Pamela Bale, said: “My personal position is that the cuts are too severe for Pangbourne, if you look objectively at the figures, but I’m doing my best to get these reductions reduced.
“We have to do something, but I think the proposals are too strict for Pangbourne. I think everybody understands the financial position that the council is in and it’s about trying to get the right balance for residents. Any suggestions will be most welcome.”
Villagers have formed a Save Pangbourne Library group and launched a petition in an effort to save their service.
Commenting on the group’s Facebook page, Jonathan Steward said: “You can’t take this away. Pangbourne is dying due to bad decisions, the bridge shut, banks closing, to lose the library is just wrong.”
Andrew Rostron posted: “Pangbourne Library is targeted for 40 per cent reduction in opening hours if WBC get their way... it’s disgraceful... and the slippery slope... Pangbourne is targeted for bigger cuts than all the other villages – grossly unfair.”
The petition can be signed on West Berkshire Council’s website.
The public consultation on West Berkshire’s cuts closes on Friday, December 13.