Southchurch Library is not “beyond repair”! Go and see for yourself Cllr Cowan and Cllr Dent

I was going to let this go because for those subjected to the social media accounts of myself and Cllr Matt Dent, having another Southchurch Library debate pop up may be in instant scroll up!

However, I have to say I am a bit fuming.

I’ve just been to Southchurch Library and it is perfectly good nick.  In no sense did I feel in danger of the building falling down! And there hasn’t even been a leak in there for twenty years! There was a recent fire, but you’d never be able to tell.

There were reading groups going on with the children and it is much more than just a library - it is a community hub used for many other reasons including as a place for people to socialise; for those looking for work and as warm hubs.

Aside from the windows needing to be replaced and the outside in need of a lick of paint, this building is - on the face of it - is in  no way “beyond repair’ as Cllr Cowan has stated.

“Beyond repair” is the primary reason stated for its closure and transfer of resources to Ambleside, and I contend this truth quite strongly. I wonder very much if Cllr Cowan has even been to the site - in fact, I know he hasn’t. Bold statement and action without ever going inside and seeing for himself.

I have submitted an FOI to find the report that said it was “beyond repair”, and it will need studying because at no point was that building falling down. It has been there for over 50 years and I doubt very much it’s about to tumble! If that was the case and it wasn’t safe, how is it is even open right now?

Something is very questionable about identifying Southchurch Library to close because nothing makes sense, aside from the numbers people at the council have calculated that it will be cheaper to move the books into the college rather than repair the windows and paint the outside.  I can only think there are plans for that plot that we don’t know about.

Some have said there are more important issues to talk about.  Perhaps, but when you chop away at the small things it becomes death by a thousand cuts.

Some have said the proposed new venue will be better. Maybe, but being there is no reason to close Southchurch, why not have both if that is the case?

I wouldn’t have a problem with this if it were done under true pretences and there was no alternative, but this is clearly not the case.

Forget tit-for-tat, political point scoring - I don’t care about any of that.  I don’t care if Confelicity does not get voted in.  We started to thwart just this type of oddity/stupidity.  Had an established Confelicity Party been set up 10 years ago there would have been no closure of the Queensway underpass because we would have seen the plans early and stopped it. Same for Bournes Green Green belt, Better Queensway, Seaway and Victoria.  All total failures.

An e-petition is being set up to keep Southchurch Library and repair it, and I am awaiting approval from the council.