Library gloom

LEWES MP Norman Baker has lashed East Sussex County Council for backing out of the Lewes Library scheme.

At a meeting on Friday the council ratified its earlier decision to withdraw funding for the 2 million project which would have seen a multi-purpose library built in the grounds of Lewes House.

Later Mr Baker said: It is unbelievable that the Tory county council, which bleats that it is so short of money, should be so willing to wash up to 1 million down the drain by cancelling the library at a minute to midnight.

The council is out of step with local people. It is cancelling projects that people want while bulldozing through those which people are strongly opposed to, such as the incinerator in Newhaven.

Others echoed the same thought by tabling questions at the meeting which challenged the financial logic of cancelling a scheme which would have been close to paying for itself.

The council, as part of the project, would have sold the current Albion Street library and its Courthope site at County Hall, releasing close to 1 million.

And by not proceeding, it now has to re-house its music library elsewhere and provide a 175,000 lift for disabled access to the current library, as well as face having to build a permanent extension there.

Cllr Bob Tidy said the music library material next year would be relocated to the lower floor of Lewes Library.

Some sets of scores would go to the county bookstore in Brooks Road, Lewes.

However, these arrangements would not be sustainable in the long term if we are not able to take forward plans for the new library in the foreseeable future, he added.

Alternative accommodation in Lewes would have to be identified and costed.

Cllr Daphne Bagshawe said: I hope that a way can be found to accommodate the new library in next year s programme but there are many competing demands on very limited resources to meet our various statutory obligations.

I cannot give an assurance that we will be able to find room in the programme for Lewes Library but you can rest assured that in reaching a decision we will have full regard to the very real impact of any decision not to proceed with the current proposal.

Cllr Mary McPherson said: The music library is an excellent resource and can t be stuffed into the basement of the Albion Street library.

It needs the new Lewes House site as a matter of urgency. If we do not take the opportunity for this wonderful site, it will never come again.

And Cllr Bob Tidy said people were rightly critical of the council s decision, having been given the expectation that the library would be built.

He had asked staff to see if grants from outside sources could be found.