NEW MILL LIBRARY - SEE FOR YOURSELF!

I'm writing this for our website because the Daily Examiner hasn't printed any of the letters I've sent them on this matter.  It looks at something which happened in Holme Valley South, but it's important for us all in the Colne Valley Constituency.  In fact, I reckon it tells us a lot about how little the Tory Party has changed. Just what's really behind David Cameron's smile?

New Mill Library has had to be closed.  Nobody is happy about that.  There's been a lot of fuss in the Examiner about it.  In particular, the Tories have done their best to hog the headlines.  They've tried to pretend that they wanted to save the Library.

I don't want to throw mud.  I don't want to turn it into a party political issue.  There's too much of that.  It doesn't help.

But the simple fact is THEY COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING TO SAVE THE LIBRARY, BUT THEY DIDN'T. 

I think that's shameless.  A scandal.  But don't take my word for it.  Make your own mind up. 

BELOW ARE TWO DOCUMENTS WHICH EXPOSE THE TORIES' HYPOCRISY

WHEN  DOES THIS SORRY TALE START?

Go back to December 2008.  The Tories ran the Council.  Kirklees Officers  wrote a Budget for each Party on the Council to look at.  They could make changes to it if they wanted.

Here's part of the proposed budget.  The Tories saw this twice in December.  Then again in January.

As we can see, the Tories knew that closing New Mill Library was on the cards.

THAT SEEMS CLEAR ENOUGH. SO WHAT DID THE TORIES DO ABOUT IT?

In a word NOTHING.  ZILCH.  NADA.

Take a look at this next document. THESE ARE THE CHANGES THE TORIES PUT FORWARD.  I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING ABOUT SAVING NEW MILL LIBRARY, CAN YOU?  BUT THEY DID THINK ABOUT LIBRARIES - SEE WHERE THEY WANTED TO PUT MONEY INTO THE MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE!

So, it seems absolutely clear that the Tories didn't lift a finger to save the library.  BUT JUST LOOK AT HOW MUCH EFFORT THEY'VE PUT IN TO GRABBING HEADLINES ABOUT DOING JUST THAT!  

OK, SO WHAT ARE THE TORIES PLAYING AT?

I think  I know what's going on.  The Tories could have tried to save the Library.  Instead, they've just shamelessly tried to grab headlines.  They've treated us like idiots.  They must think they can get away with saying one thing and doing the opposite.  Did they think it was worth standing by watching the Library close, so they could grandstand?

Why don't you ask them......... 

• when did they see the Officers' Budget?
• did they notice what it said about New Mill Library? 
• why didn't they put in an amendment to keep it open? 

If they won't answer you, ask yourself what have they got to hide?  And how can they be taken seriously on ANYTHING they say?

HERE'S HOW TO CONTACT THEM

Donald Firth - 01484 683735  donald.firth@kirklees.gov.uk 

Nigel Patrick - nigel.patrick@kirklees.gov.uk 

Ken Sims - 01484 682930  kenneth.sims@kirklees.gov.uk 

Jason McCartney - 01484 717959 jason@jasonmccartney.com 

THERE'S MORE - COUNCILLORS FIRTH AND SIMS HAVE "PREVIOUS" ON THIS SORT OF THING

Let's go back to 1998. This is part of the Tory Budget they voted for on March 4th:

“4. Public Conveniences

         Review service provision, and close those facilities outside principal town centres.”

                                 Source: Summary of Revenue Budgets 1998/99, Appendix 3

That's clear enough.  They wanted to close public toilets in smaller places.  Like New Mill, for example.But hold on a minute. NOTHING'S EVER STRAIGHTFORWARD WITH THESE TWO.

Just over three weeks later, they got an article and photo in the Holme Valley Express. The headline was:

RELIEF ON WAY! Councillors' pressure pays as work begins on eyesore loos.

This is what the relevant part of the article said:

 “Relief is on the way following a 15-month wait for toilets to be rebuilt in the centre of New Mill.

The village conveniences were almost flattened by a tractor which ran out of control along Greenhill Bank Road into the front of the building.

Local residents and parish councillors claimed the boarded-up toilets had become a blot on the landscape, giving a poor impression to the hundreds of commuters and visitors who drive through the junction every day.

For anyone needing to spend a penny, it has meant keeping ‘crossed legs’ at the crossroads.

Speaking to the Express on on Wednesday, Kirklees Environment Services officer Paul Whittaker confirmed that rebuilding had started. Work is expected to take about two weeks. “The toilets will be rebuilt to how they were previously under the terms of the insurance claim. In addition, the council is spending £1500 on repairs to the roof, which are also necessary.”

Mr. Whittaker revealed plans for new disabled  facilities – though not included in the current scheme – were also in the pipeline.

Councillor Donald Firth had earlier pressed for action to restore the vital facility and rid the the village of its worst eyesore. “ Originally, we were told that the toilets would be refurbished  and brought back into commission by January 1998. The money from the insurance claim came through some time ago, so by now the the toilets should be up and running”

It looks to me as if they make a habit of letting us in Holme Valley South down.  Instead of looking after our interests, they go for cheap headlines.  They didn't do anything to protect the Library - then tried to blame someone else.  They wanted to close the toilets -  then tried to grab the credit for keeping them open.

 

I THINK WE DESERVE BETTER.I HOPE THE EVIDENCE I'VE SHOWN YOU HERE MAKES YOU THINK THE SAME.     

Chris Chapple, Holme Valley South Labour Party Organiser.

 

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