Planning officers and councillors were due to sit today to decide upon a proposal to deliver a new £2million library for the residents of Glossop but poor road conditions resulting out of snow, ice and now drifting snow prevented the site visit, pushing the decision back to May.

Derbyshire Conservatives, led by local Members Jean and George Wharmby have been keen to ensure that the new library, which would have been a purpose built accessible library, was delivered for Glossop’s local residents. This despite the furore and scaremongering whipped up by the local Labour group to retain and wastefully invest in an expensive, outdated and difficult to access old building; the Victoria Hall.

Jean Wharmby said,

“George and I understand that many people love the Victoria Hall but we also know many of those same people would welcome an accessible, fit for purpose library in the town, whilst the owners of the building High Peak Borough Council, find an alternative and more appropriate use for the building. In these austere times it is not appropriate for the Borough Council to use Derbyshire County Councils resources to bail out their lack of investment.”

The Victoria Hall, a grand later 19th Century building is mostly unoccupied with a library occupying a single floor, which is difficult to access for the elderly and disabled and requires considerable investment in repairs. A local pressure group Save Our Unique Library (SOUL ), which has been latched upon by local Labour candidates with little idea of what local people see as real issues, has seen national media attention highlight the perverseness of their cause: campaigning against a new library at a time when many are closing. Labour controlled High Peak Borough Council clearly hopes that Derbyshire County Council will use the £2million to bail out their lack of investment in this locally important building.

Jean added,

“It is clear that Labour is not thinking about local people, only in saving their own skins. It is a shame that this grand building has become the focus of Labours misguided local campaign as it seeks votes in the run up to the election, rather than what most people tell us they really want – a new fit for purpose library.”

Not one library has been closed in Derbyshire against a national picture that has seen local authorities closing libraries to save money. Derbyshire Conservatives have pledged none shall close in its next term, should they be elected, and have a programme of refurbishments and new libraries planned.

The application will now be considered in May.

The Daily Mail story can be seen here:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2297400/Town-battles-2m-new-lib…