Ledbury Portal Community Forum

Well, I reckon, we've got about two, maybe three, weeks to save the new library build.

An insider within Herefordshire Council, who is passionate about the build, told the Ledbury Portal that the only possible way to save the build is to send a 7,000 name petition to Herefordshire Council, which would trigger a full Council debate.

Without this the new library is almost certainly a dead duck with next month's comprehensive spending review meeting likely to eat up the £2,339,000 that was ringfenced in this year's budget for the new library.

Although many have criticised the library build for a number of very valid reasons, there is concern that Ledbury will end up with no library at all. With Herefordshire Council planning swingeing cuts across the board and Ledbury being a familiar target of theirs, the lease for the present library at the Barrett Browning Institute might not even be renewed.

Can you imagine Ledbury with no library, an empty Barrett Browning Institute and a run down ugly-looking Master's House? We won't need no TIC to not attract visitors the town.

I have spoken to the town council about the possibility of a petition and also contacted the Mayor, the Master's House Action Group and the Civic Society, but there does not appear to be any urgency nor much willing to force the council's hand.

Council and Mayor have told me to do-it-myself. However, I have neither the time nor the money to put this petition together. What the town needs is an organisation that people could democratically vote for; an organisation that would both serve the people and take the lead in important decision-making for the town. An organisation that had its hands on some public money that it could use in emergencies and crises, and in tackling its big brother over in Hereford.

What a shame we have nothing like this.

There appears to be an apathy, an acceptance of the situation that is steeped in the political. The people voted Conservative and the Conservatives are the party of cuts to public services, while the establishment remains to serve and protect the elite.

All Tory's Together? Well, 'we' got what 'we' wanted, didn't 'we'.