Hundreds sign petition over plans for Penkridge library

Hundreds of people have signed a petition calling on a parish council to reverse a decision that sparked anger at a recent meeting.

Penkridge Parish Council has been working with residents over the past few months to prepare a bid to take on the village library from Staffordshire County Council. The council’s proposals included hiring a paid volunteer co-ordinator and £15,000 was raised towards the post through an increase in the parish precept this year.

But last month the parish council voted to rescind its decision to hire a co-ordinator, which sparked anger from members of the public and some council members opposed to the u-turn.

At this month’s parish council meeting some councillors questioned the details contained in the minutes of the June meeting relating to the library motion and vote, meaning they were not formally signed off as would normally take place.

A petition has also been started by Friends of Penkridge Library calling for the parish council to use the £15,000 raised for the co-ordinator role as intended. Within a few hours of its launch 320 signatures had been collected, and an online version has received more than 200 signatures.

The online petition stated: “This manner in which this decision was made is deeply concerning. No attempt was made to consult with any village residents, library users or volunteers, despite representation on the Library Steering Committee, and the presence of over 30 people in the public gallery. This behaviour signifies a complete lack of interest in the wishes of the local community, or the value our community derives from a professional and comprehensive library service, despite these being repeatedly demonstrated over many years.

“We therefore demand that Penkridge Parish Council uses the designated precept monies to immediately employ a professional library coordinator (as defined by library users); without which we state no confidence in their role as representatives of our community, or their continued involvement with the transfer of Penkridge library to community-management.”

But speaking at June’s parish council meeting Petula Hughes said: “I have thought about this long and hard and I have taken advice from Staffordshire County Council.

“We do not need a co-ordinator for our library. We have four paid admin staff employed by this council who are capable and our parish administrator is undertaking library training.”

The Bellbrook library was one of four in Staffordshire to be approved for transfer from county council to community management last year.

The two current library staff at Penkridge are due to leave on Saturday, July 27 and a farewell event has been organised by villagers to thank them for their work. The drop in event runs from 9am to 1pm at the library and will include tea, cake and a formal presentation.