Bentham - Core Library for West Craven

From: jimmunday@hotmail.com
To: julie.blaisdale@northyorks.gov.uk
CC: cllr.david.ireton@northyorks.gov.uk; derek.law@northyorks.gov.uk; gary.fielding@northyorks.gov.uk
Subject: Bentham - The Core Library for West Craven.
Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:46:14 +0000

Dear Julie Blaisdale

Bentham - The Core Library for West Craven.

I was pleased to meet you at the recent meeting at Bentham Town Hall. It is always good to put a face to a name.

There is a very strong reasons for retaining Bentham as a core library for this area. The current proposals pick off both the libraries in this area - i.e. Bentham and Ingleton by treating them as separate entities. However if you re-crunch the numbers - combine Bentham and Ingleton libraries as a single unit. Then it is more obvious that Bentham should be designated as a core library to service the needs in West Craven.

If the figures are recast on this basis the case for Bentham as a Core Library is made.

Bentham should be the Core Library to satisfy the legal requirements for an accessible and comprehensive public library service for West Craven. It is easily accessible to the surrounding area by regular bus, train and community transport services. Settle is not. Contrasted with the other market towns you mentioned; they are all nearer to the designated core library and probably have better transport links.

Therefore perhaps this situation can be reconsidered and Bentham designated as a Core Library to service this often forgotten corner of the county.

  

Regards

Yours sincerely  

Jim Munday

Inglefield, 57 Robin Lane,

Bentham,
North Yorkshire LA2 7AG
015242 63152
Mob 0785 498 9936

Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:41:38 +0000
From: Julie.Blaisdale@northyorks.gov.uk
To: jimmunday@hotmail.com
CC: Cllr.David.Ireton@northyorks.gov.uk; Derek.Law@northyorks.gov.uk; Gary.Fielding@northyorks.gov.uk
Subject: Re: FW: The reasons Bentham should be retained as a Core Library forWest Craven.

Dear Mr Munday

Thank you for your correspondence regarding Bentham library and for your attendance at the meeting to  discuss the library proposals on Monday evening. It was good to meet with you and discuss your
concerns.

Bentham is not the only market town affected by the proposals.
Boroughbridge, Tadcaster, Easingwold and Bedale are also affected.  However, an extra £350k has been restored into the Libraries' budget in order to provide communities such as Bentham with some time to consider how they might work on partnership arrangements with NYCC in order to find solutions that will assist with cost effective outcomes that will deliver the savings whilst, at the same time, maintaining the service in local communities. However, it has to be stressed that the current funding model, ie fully funding all elements of the current library service from mainstream NYCC funding is no longer an option.

As I said at the meeting, the County Council is still out to consultation on its library proposals and your views/comments will be taken on board as part of this process. Thank you for your contribution to the consultation process so far and I look forward to working with yourself and the residents of Bentham on developing a solution that will maintain a library presence in your community.

Kind regards -
Julie Blaisdale

Julie Blaisdale
Assistant Director, Library & Community Services
Adult & Community Services
North Yorkshire County Council
Racecourse Lane
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
DL7 8DD
Tel: 01609 533494

Jim Munday mailto:jimmunday@hotmail.com%3E%2014/02/2011%2014:41%20%3E%3E

Dear Derek Law

I understand that you and Chris Metcalfe have delegated decision making powers  over the Library Consultation proposals.

There would appear to have been an oversight in the proposals regarding the designation of "core libaries".
Bentham is the second largest population centre in Craven and sadly we seem to have been forgotten. Attached is my letter which clearly explains why Bentham should be re-assessed as a core library. I trust
you win be able to designate it as such even if this means that Crosshills or Settle were to close instead.

Regards

Jim Munday
Inglefield, 57 Robin Lane,
Bentham,
North Yorkshire LA2 7AG
015242 63152
Mob 0785 498 9936