Allister fights to save Kells Library
18 February 2011
TUV Leader and local Kells resident, Jim Allister, who attended and spoke at the recent public meeting on Libraries NI’s plans to shut Kells & Connor Library, has described the plan as utterly indefensible and an assault on the very fabric of the villages.
“When I compare the platitudes in the consultation document with the realities of the proposal, then they ring very hollow indeed. It talks about “enabling libraries to be at the heart of communities”, about “putting customers first” and “delivering the services they want”, but then sets all these fine words on their head by proposing to close a library that truly is at the heart of the community and delivering what locals want and need.
“But the section in the consultation document which is most contradicted by the closure proposal is the commitment to “parity of provision across NI – urban or rural”. It quotes ‘cost per issue’ as a key determining factor in deciding Kells Library is not sustainable. It quotes this cost as £3.74 for Kells, but the same document shows that in Creggan Library (Londonderry) the cost is £6.03 per issue, likewise excessive costs attach in Shantallow, Strabane and Dungiven, but these libraries are to stay, while the more efficient and cost effective library in Kells is to close. Just what is the agenda here? It certainly isn’t parity!
“Moreover, Kells is one of the cheapest libraries to run in the whole portfolio of Libraries NI. Its maintenance bill is under £500 and its total annual cost just £28,730.
“So, no matter what way you look at this proposal it is hopelessly flawed and indefensible.
“One of the drivers for closure is the modest size of the library, yet, they are proposing to retain smaller libraries in Coalisland, Irvinestown and Crumlin.
“As I told the public meeting, what Libraries NI is protecting for Coalisland, Shantallow and Creggan, they must give Kells. We will accept nothing less.”
