JULIE Maddison, chairman of Friends of Crediton Library (FoCL) has sent the following letter to Cllr Roger Croad (Devon County cabinet member with responsibility for libraries), Mel Stride MP for Central Devon, Nick Way Devon County Councillor (Crediton Rural) and Ciara Eastell Head of Libraries:

I AM writing to you following a meeting of the Friends of Crediton Library (FoCL) on September 21 at which it was agreed that, as a group, we should communicate our concerns about the proposed relocation of Crediton Children’s Centre to Crediton Library, before the end of the feasibility/planning process.

I should like to begin by saying that we all appreciate the very valuable role the Children’s Centre plays in supporting parents with babies and young children in the town, and that we fully understand their need to find a suitable and appropriate location in which to continue to offer this important service. However, FoCL has serious reservations about whether the library really is suitable and appropriate for two very different services to co-exist without one having to make serious compromises in what it can offer.

The building is small with limited toilet and kitchen facilities, and if, as we fear, the Children’s Centre occupy the space currently housing non-fiction and the computers, which will move into the main section of the library, an already crowded space will become very cramped.

I have been approached by many people expressing their unease at the plans – older library users in particular are worried about possible loss of parking spaces if the building is extended, and many have issues about noise as they value an opportunity to browse and read in peace and quiet, and there has also been surprise at the lack of any real and meaningful consultation with library users so far.

We appreciate that these are financially challenging times, and that shared use of resources is economically necessary and prudent, but this arrangement can only work when the two services who are accommodated together are compatible – the library in Ashburton alongside the local Post Office is an example of a good match.

We worry that the needs of Crediton library users are going to be severely compromised by the very specific needs of the Children’s Centre, especially surrounding the issue of safeguarding, and fear that in the future, if footfall and issue totals drop as library users “vote with their feet”, this may eventually lead to the closure of the library.

As a Friends group we are very new, but have had some success with fundraising and supporting the library with various events, including an evening to promote a publication by a local author which attracted more than 100 guests! We hope to be able to host more events like this in the future as there is obvious demand here in the town for social, literary events, but logistically it was very difficult clearing the space, and I cannot imagine that we could plan something on a similar scale in even more cramped conditions.

In fact, our future fundraising is to focus on buying wheeled shelving units to make it easier to put on similar events, and we hope to apply for some funding from the local council to help with this. Also, a U3A group is in the process of being established here in Crediton, and we have offered the library (and the support of FoCL) as a potential venue for lectures, presentations and classes.

In fact, once we have the facility to open up the space more easily, there could be the potential to hire out the library to local organisations and generate some income.

As we understand it, Crediton is one of the most successful libraries in Devon, and we are striving as a Friends group to ensure that all sections of the community feel included and welcome to take part in the many and varied activities and events that the library offers.

You will understand that we sincerely hope that any future development will not adversely affect a service that we all value very highly, and which is so important to so many people.

Julie Maddison

Chair of Friends of Crediton Library

“Averdale”