Libraries and youth centres under threat (From Witney Gazette)

Libraries and youth centres under threat

4:50pm Tuesday 30th November 2010 in News By Tom Jennings

Fred and Fenella Gray outside the Bampton Library

BAMPTON has found itself bearing the brunt of potential cuts to libraries and youth services.

It was announced that Oxfordshire County Council could cut funding to 20 libraries and 20 youth centres, and Bampton could lose both.

The cuts to the libraries will save £2m over four years, while cutting the youth services will save £4.2m. The council hopes to save £155m by 2015.

As well as Bampton, in West Oxfordshire Charlbury, North Leigh, and Stonesfield could lose libraries, while Burford, Carterton, Chipping Norton, Eynsham, and Standlake all have youth centres under threat.

Bampton residents reacted with concern to the news on Monday.

Hilary Davis, 44, was at the library with her children Jack, eight, and Olivia, 18 months.

She said: “I think it would be a real shame if we lost the library.”

Her son, Jack, said: “I enjoy reading, and we would be really, really sad if the library closed.”

Trudy Compton, 71, said she used the library to rent books and films for her 33-year-old son, Gareth, who has cerebral palsy.

She said: “The library is very convenient for us, and I feel to take this away from the village would not be a good thing.”

But Fred and Fenella Gray said they would try to save the facilities if cuts did happen.

Mr Gray, who is chairman of Bampton Parish Council, said: “We don’t want to lose any facilities.

“Bampton has a reputation of saving services and getting things done, and what we may be able to do is keep both facilities going. But it’s very early days.”

The town has already saved the post office from closure, partly through funds from a community shop, which is run by volunteers and donates between £16,000 and £18,000 a year to the community.

Mrs Gray, who is director of the shop, said: “The library is a centre for the village — a meeting place.

“I think it’s very important to the village, and I don’t want to see it shut. I would hate to see the youth centre go, too, because it’s a place for youngsters to go.”

She said she had to look into “the business side of it”, but said she was keen to save both facilities.

News that Carterton’s Allandale youth centre, in Burford Road, may close has been met with frustration by one town councillor.

Adrian Coomber, deputy mayor of Carterton, said: “Of course savings need to be made in the county council’s budget.

“But I am just so disappointed that they should cut the youth provision.”

Members of the youth centre met Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron recently, where the future of the centre was discussed.

Mr Coomber said: “At the meeting, one youth councillor said that The Allandale provided a safe, warm, and dry environment for youngsters to meet, and that it literally saves lives by preventing young people from entering into a spiral of antisocial behaviour and crime.”

He said Mr Cameron had been “extremely sympathetic” and had suggested the young people meet the county council’s leader, Keith Mitchell, something Mr Coomber said he would now try to organise.

Mr Coomber said Carterton Town Council would try to work with schools, voluntary organisations and residents to try to fund the centre.

The county council proposals are subject to change when the council learns its detailed budget settlement from the Government.