Conservatives remain committed to Surrey's libraries 14th March 2006
Surrey’s Conservative controlled Executive has today rejected proposals to close libraries. The Executive have pledged that Hersham, Caterham Hill, Ewell Court and New Haw libraries will remain open in their current form, and a consultation will now take place to determine the provision of libraries services in Bagshot and Virginia Water.
The original decision to consult on the proposed closure of these libraries was due to the Council’s government created funded crisis. However, subsequent actions taken by the Conservatives on SCC have considerably improved the library service’s financial position. The budget agreed by Council last month proposes additional investment of £500,000 into the service and plans to dispose of the Drill Hall in Dorking will provide significant funds to improve Surrey’s libraries.
The Lib Dems opposed this extra investment at the Council’s budget meeting and have never revealed how much they would invest in Surrey’s libraries. Instead, they have consistently opposed moves to provide a modern library services based on books not buildings, which would result in a modern library service utilizing mobile libraries, mini-libraries, community libraries, home delivery service and on-line access depending on the needs of a particular communities. Yet in a press release issued by them last week they state they want to see longer opening hours, more books and more online facilities, exactly what the Conservatives have pledged to address.
Andrew Crisp, Executive portfolio holder for Schools, Children & Community Services, said:
“The closure of these libraries was only ever a proposal forced upon us by the government created funding crisis and arbitrary national targets. I very much welcome the decision by my Conservative colleagues on the Executive to now pledge that Hersham, Caterham Hill, Ewell Court and New Haw libraries will remain open. We have always remained committed to maintaining Surrey’s libraries and the Council has taken significant action to allow us to fulfil this commitment. The additional investment of £500,000 in this year’s budget and the sale of the Drill Hall Dorking will enable us to create attractive modern libraries for Surrey”
He added
The Lib Dems opposed our additional investment of £500,000 in this year’s budget, yet have never stated how much they would invest in libraries or where the money would come from. I call on them now to end their weeks of inconsistency and produce fully costed proposals for the service.“
Union support for Brown’s left-hand man overrides views of Labour Party Members (29th September)
Labour’s new Leader has a credibility gap
Andrew Povey, Leader of Surrey County Council, has commented on the installation of Ed Miliband as Le... Read More
Surrey’s residents and businesses would benefit from properly funded local authorities (29th September)
Andrew Povey to continue to push the government for fairer funding.
“The Coalition government has made a very impressive start and Eric Pickles in ... Read More
Prime Minister and Mrs. Cameron celebrate a new arrival (24th August)
Surrey Conservatives wish them all the best
Geoff Marlow, Chairman of Surrey County Council, has welcomed the news of a new baby in the Camer... Read More
Surrey Conservatives welcome the end of the Audit Commission (16th July)
Tim Hall hails a move that will save council taxpayers' money and decentralise power
Tim Hall, Cabinet Member for Change & Efficiency o... Read More
Eric Pickles opens the books (13th August)
Central Government learns from Local Government
Tim Hall, Cabinet Member for Change & Efficiency, has welcomed Eric Pickles’ decisio... Read More
County Lib-Dems at odds with Coalition (22nd July)
We cannot spend monies that we do not have.
Surrey County Council’s Deputy Leader, David Hodge, has today expressed his dismay at the c... Read More
Vote Blue Go Green (20th July)
New mileage proposals will be good for the environment.
Andrew Povey, Leader of Surrey County Council, today unveiled a new mileage allowances re... Read More




