Save Pangbourne Library campaigner slams council

A WOMAN campaigning to save Pangbourne Library from having its opening hours cut has launched a scathing attack on West Berkshire Council.
In November, the council announced it planned to reduce the opening hours from 27 hours per week to 16 hours per week as part of its plan to save £11m over the next two years.
A ‘Save Pangbourne Library’ group was subsequently set up and a petition with more than 1,300 signatures was handed to West Berkshire Council’s Executive by campaigner Antoinette Earl at a meeting last week.
Following a two week public consultation, the council said it would keep the library open for 22 hours per week - six more than originally proposed - but Miss Earl is still furious at the new proposal.
Addressing the meeting she said: “The proposed cut is an unfair attack on Pangbourne, which, despite its status as a Rural Service Centre, receives few services from West Berkshire Council.
“With the protection afforded to Newbury library at the expense of others, Pangbourne is beginning to feel more like the ‘poor relation’ than ever.
“Since the announcement of the cuts, people in Pangbourne have become increasingly concerned and angry about West Berkshire Council’s mishandling of the issue.
“First, there was the deeply flawed consultation, which you chose to conduct almost exclusively online. This excluded people from having their say, particularly older residents. Many people found out about the proposed cuts not from the Council, but from the Campaign.
“Second, your Equality Impact Assessment described travelling to Theale Library as ‘an inconvenience’, despite the fact that there are no public transport links between Pangbourne & Theale. You completely failed to take in to account any disproportionate effect on Pangbourne as a rural community.
“Thirdly, despite requests from Pangbourne Parish Council, local campaigners and residents, you have failed to provide any concrete financial evidence to justify the cut. For more than two months now, you have failed to answer the most important question – how much money would you actually save by cutting our library hours?
“People’s trust in you has been seriously undermined, but you can win back that trust. And this is what the people, by signing this petition, are asking you to do.
“They want their library to remain open for 27 hours per week. Please do the right thing, listen to what they are saying, and leave our library alone.”
Council figures state that 27,700 people visited the library in 2012, with 32,800 items loaned.
The council said it has been forced to make cuts across the board to combat a reduction in funding from central government.
Other libraries who could see their opening hours reduced are Thatcham, Wash Common, Lambourn, Hungerford, Burghfield Common and Mortimer.
The proposals will be put to full council on March 4 for approval.