ITPAS - Irby Library Closure

What has ITPAS done & what we continue to do...

May 2009 - ITPAS committee write to Sue Charteris who is heading the enquiry into the conduct of WBC in their attempt to enforce their "Strategic Asset Review" - which is what we see as an attempted cut back of Council assets - NOT a method of 'improving services'! We anticipate being present and having a say at the enquiry in June 2009

March 2009 - Having lived with the threat to close Irby library for some years now, ITPAS answered a plea by the Library user group, on which sits one of our Committee members, and from staff to become more involved with this important amenity.

Over this time we have publicised the library through our website (read more about Irby Library) and articles within our newsletter including standard facilities together with extra events such as 'Coffee morning' and 'storytime'. We have also invited staff to hold a display at the ITPAS AGM, which was well received. Additionally we organised the planting of 10,000 bulbs in the grounds, which involved local school children (see article). All in all, the Irby Library has been an excellent hub of activity for old and young alike and ITPAS have involved ourselves at all levels.

Late 2008 saw the Wirral Borough Council issue their 'strategic review' at which point it was quite clear that sleeves had to be rolled up. An emergency committee meeting was held just prior to Christmas, which resulted in letters being sent to local Councilors, The Local Authority and to Stephen Hesford MP. Publicity was also carried out through our website and on our three noticeboards in trying to raise public awareness. A petition had been started by the library user group, but sadly, despite getting over 1000 signatures, this was submitted ahead of time otherwise many more signatures would have been obtained.

Within a relatively short period of time (too short for this kind of decision), The recommendations of the Strategic review were being voted upon by our Councilors. A majority vote that included OUR LOCAL COUNCILORS supported the decision to close Irby library. Pensby library was thankfully saved, but some rather odd changes were made. Some libraries were taken out of the review process and others were placed in, effectively providing an immediate decision to close those libraries without consultation!

Irby library fell under the axe. This means that our local elected representatives agreed to remove the following facilities from our Community.......

	BOOKS (Adults & junior, fiction/non fiction, large print, crime, horror, fantasy & science fiction, romance, Children’s books from pre-school to secondary school age).
	COMPUTERS (11 for public use with internet access and MS Office for word processing, accounting, database etc)
	Information Point (Council Information)
	General Reference enquiries using Internet access
	Saveaway local transport tickets
	Bus & Train Timetables
	Posters & Leaflets for local and other events/services
	'Wirral Passport' Applications
	Public Toilet with disabled access and baby change facilities
	Sale of publications by local historians
	Resource for unique local history information
	Sale of second hand books
	Storytime (weekly for pre school children)
	Playgroup visits
	Primary School Class Visits
	Visits by local Beavers & Rainbows groups
	Work Experience for Secondary School Pupils
	Children’s summer reading scheme
	Children’s summer activities
	Bookstart Gifts
	Book Ahead Materials for playgroups
	National and Local Newspapers available
	Library User Group
	Library Reading Group
	Photocopying Service
	Fax Service
	Scanning facility
	Basic office equipment available for public use
	Councilors Surgery (monthly)
	Police Surgery (fortnightly)
	Computer Courses
	Sale of Children’s wall charts and workbooks
	Collection point for donated items for Hoylake Cottage Hospital, Roy Castle Foundation, Wirral Lions Club
	Irby Thurstaston & Pensby Amenity Society notice board (Information on local issues and details of public speakers, meetings etc.)
	Wirral Homes Vacancy Bulletins
	Requests for free smoke alarms from Fire Service
	Talks & Coffee Mornings
	Sale of Christmas Cards & Gifts for St John’s Hospice

As can be seen, this is much much more than a book loaning service - a crucial amenity for our community. Something we quite clearly cannot do without! Click here to see our full page for Irby Library.

We must not of course forget the 5 jobs that come with the library. At such times of uncertainty, what will become of those positions. We understand that 2 have now requested early retirement and the other 3 may be redeployed within library services or elsewhere within WBC - what a waste!

If you feel strongly about this then you may still be able to do something. The whole process of this decision making is in question. Along with other groups, we are writing a formal complaint to the Local Authorities Ombudsman in respect of the procedures adopted and the fact the decision goes against current legislation in respect of the Local Authorities obligations to serve its Community. However, it is equally up to us all to to do something - WE MUST ALL BE HEARD!

Write to the address below. You must also write to the Chief Executive of WBC as a procedural notification. You MUST tell the Chief Executive that you have written to the Ombudsman and copy that letter to them at York. Also copy your letter to Stephen Hesford MP. You may also wish to copy in the Wirral Residents Alliance who are behind the judicial review. All the relevant information required is below, copy and paste the black text into your letter or email:-

Ombudsman's Address

Anne Seex (Yes this is correct!)

Beverley House

17 Shipton Road

York

YO30 5FZ

Wirral Borough Council

The Chief Executive

Mr Steve Maddox

Wallasey Town Hall

Brighton Street

Wallasey

Wirral

CH44 8ED

Email: stephenmaddox@wirral.gov.uk (Click to start an email)

Non Hyperlink (to copy & paste) - stephenmaddox@wirral.gov.uk

Stephen Hesford MP

WRITE TO: Stephen Hesford MP, 140 Ford Road, Upton, Wirral, CH49 0TQ

FAX: 0151 522 0558

EMAIL: hesfords@parliament.uk

Non hyperlink: (to copy and paste) hesfords@parliament.uk

Mr Hesford also has his 'surgery' on

1st Saturday of every month at Pensby Community Centre, Fishers Lane, Pensby. 2:00pm-3:00pm (No appointment necessary)

Wirral Residents Alliance

Glenn Fleetwood - glennfleetwood@hotmail.com

Non hyperlink (to copy and paste) glennfleetwood@hotmail.com

Click here to leave a comment on the ITPAS "Your Voice" - Go to "The Local" forum

Click here to read the Chairman's 'Blog' (look for the Library link in the right margin)

Click here to read the article along with contact details of all Councillors

Click here to read another ITPAS feature on the libraries

Click here to read the 'Strategic Asset Review - Cabinet Decision'

Click here to read about our bulb planting

Click here to read some comments placed on Author Alan Gibbons 'blog'

The below video we think is expressive of the emotive feelings of Wirrals' tax paying public. It has NOT been created by ITPAS and whilst we are not responsible for the content, we feel that whilst it pre-dates the WBC decision, it is appropriate for this article...

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Thanks to 'Butterz771' at YouTube for making this video available for public use