Dear friends,
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS UPDATE ACROSS YOUR NETWORKS
Thank you to everyone who came to the community meeting on Wednesday and for sharing your brilliant ideas to save Braunton library.
It was a great turnout with lots of energy. The meeting provided an opportunity for us to meet each other and discuss next steps. It was particularly encouraging to see widespread support for the campaign from different political parties (quotes of support below). People were united to save the library.
During the meeting we facilitated three conversations: 1) how we build the campaign over the coming weeks 2) how people can volunteer and 3) new and innovative ideas for a sustainable future for the library.
One priority that emerged from the meeting is for us to prepare a formal submission to Devon County Council asking for an urgent re-classification of Braunton library from a “smaller and less-well used” library to a “medium to large” library reflecting its true status and enabling us to engage in a full consultation about its future. We will seek endorsement for this proposal at next Wednesday’s Public Meeting.
We are now busy going through all your ideas and suggestions from the meeting and will keep you updated on next steps. In the meantime here are some things we can do:
- FILL IN THE CONSULTATION: https://new.devon.gov.uk/libraryreview/feedback-form/
- PUT UP POSTERS: Please do continue to put up posters around Braunton. Let’s make our campaign known. The poster can be downloaded by clicking one of the following links as either a word document or a pdf file.
- BRAUNTON ROTARY FAIR: Monday 26 May: – Many thanks to Liz Spear for organising some space at the Fair on Monday. Could you please email me ASAP on [email protected] if you can volunteer for one hour between 11am and 4pm (Please let me know which hour!). We will be collecting petition signatures at the event.
- PUBLIC MEETING: Wednesday 28 May: Please do get as many people as possible to attend. It is important we show Councillors that Braunton Library is a much loved and active part of our community (7.30pm Braunton Parish Hall, Chaloners Road)
Finally, ITV came to Braunton this week too and here is a copy of their news report: http://itv.co/1gTSIto
There will be lots more coming up and a very big THANK YOU to everyone involved - SAVE BRAUNTON LIBRARY!!!
Quotes of support below…
Ben
Support for Braunton Library
Peter Heaton-Jones (Conservative candidate): “Braunton cannot be placed in the same category as libraries in the sparsely-populated rural areas, and yet this approach is being adopted by the consultation.”
Mark Cann (Labour Candidate): “Braunton Library is a cornerstone of the local community and I’m hopeful that with concerted public pressure we can save Braunton Library and I’m happy to be a part of that campaign”
Nick Harvey MP (Liberal Democrat): “Libraries provide a vital community service both for leisure and educational purposes. Any moves to close or rationalize Braunton Library is clearly a retrograde step”
