'Council library takeover will make things worse'

Library groups fear they will be cut or the quality of their libraries will drop if a council was to take them over.

Suffolk County Council announced earlier this year it aimed to take the libraries back in-house after it failed to agree terms with its private contractor.

Suffolk Libraries, an independent charity, has run the county's 45 libraries since 2012, and previously said it was shocked by the council's proposed takeover.

While the council said it would "continue to deliver the same rich and impressive" services, some users were still concerned.

Parents attending a free Tot Rock session at Ipswich County Library expressed their concerns over the plan.

Lizzie Edwards, 34, is one of over 20,000 people to have signed a petition against the council's move, and said Tot Rock was "so valuable".

"I can't imagine them making improvements, I expect that they will do the opposite and things will get worse," she added.

Laura John, 40, said all three of her children had attended the group over the years.

"It is concerning because I feel we're so lucky to have all this on our doorstep, and if it wasn't here I don't know where else I'd go," she said.

Sophie Vendenbrink-Budgen, 31, said the service had been "working well".

"My fear is things will close or change... sadly, it wouldn't surprise me if they took it over and things like this would go," she added.

"When you're trying to encourage children to read and with speech and language development, stuff like this is really important."

Elizabeth McAlpine, 69, attended a free talk on bees and beekeeping at Bury St Edmunds Library on Wednesday.

She said the library was a valuable "community hub".

"I think since the libraries have been run as a charity for the last 12 years they've done very well. I can't see any way to change it, and I don't think it could be improved in any way," she added.

Vivienne Abbotts, a member of the library for the past 30 years, said Suffolk Libraries had run it "successfully".

"I know in the country as a whole, councils have closed libraries, and I hope that this won't happen here."

A deciding vote on the takeover will happen on Tuesday during a cabinet meeting and, if agreed, the council would take control of the library service by 1 June.

Phillip Faircloth-Mutton, the council's cabinet member responsible for libraries, said it planned to keep all 45 sites open, with no reduction in hours, and allow it to "deliver more cohesive and accessible public services".

He added: "These library spaces will continue to serve as community hubs, providing seamless integration with other public services, and ensuring that Suffolk's residents can access the help they need, when they need it."

A meeting was held on Thursday at the request of Suffolk Libraries where it presented a new proposal to the council.

It said the new proposal "would enable the council to potentially access additional funding to help maintain the current service for the next two years".

Sylvia Knights, chair of the Suffolk Libraries board, said: "We have always been open to further talks and negotiation."

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