Today we all heard the devastating news that many of the county's libraries and youth centres could close due to potential budget cuts. We are being asked to 'pull together' in our communities to help save these vital services with local volunteers. Read the press release here.
Many residents will remember that Grove Library was threatened in the past and a group of residents formed the 'Friends of Grove Library' (FROGs) to keep it open. I was secretary at the time and it took a huge amount of effort. However, our library was saved, but now here we are again. Let us hope that something similar can happen now!
We have been worried for some time about the future of The Sweatbox in Wantage, and here we are again concerned about its future as Wantage is listed in this press release as one of the centres which could close unless the community can somehow pull together to keep it open. Once again, this will be down to volunteers.
The future looks bleak indeed so let us hope that solutions can be found before the budget is decided in February.
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... and now the Police Station too - might as well just up sticks and move - crime will increase, the youth will have nothing to do with Sweatbox shut so ... crime will increase .... the Grove villagers will have no books to read .... so crime will increase .... oh and let's not forget the huge amount of unwanted housing that will be built on the airfield - but, hey, no police station to deal with the increase in crime, no youth club for the extra kids to go to, and no books to read for the tots and older people. Thanks so much OCC for getting rid of such vital services to this little backwater - remember us, Wantage and Grove IS still part of Oxfordshire, but maybe you'd like us to go back to Berkshire? But never mind, cos the public will pull together and do all the work for nothing - well, they'll be unemployed anyway after these cuts, so they might as well do something to pass the time of day.
ReplyDeleteMy kids have been told that Sweatbox will close for good on 31st March 2011....so much for making a final decision in February. The whole thing disgusts me. So, not only will our children have nowhere to go to meet up with their friends in the evening in a safe environment, but they also won't be able to afford to go to university and so the Conservative council and government are creating a whole new generation of people who will have to try and survive on the dole. That's if they've not been locked up for anti-social behaviour because they have no place to socialise....although without a Police Station in the town, that might not be such a problem :(
ReplyDeleteAnd I know you're a Lib Dem Zoe, but Nick Clegg shot himself in the foot with increasing student fees.
I have been at a briefing today about the future of our youth services and that is certainly not what we were told. I will try and find out more.
ReplyDeleteThe tuition fees issue is a dilemma for many Lib Dems. We would not be increasing fees if we were a Liberal Democrat government, however, we have tried to modify the Conservative proposals making the situation better for poorer students.
Thanks, would appreciate knowing more about what is going on - kids' got a text today from Sweatbox with the news about the closure, but they will be out in force at the Dickensian Evening tomorrow night, handing out flyers to try and get public support for Sweatbox to be kept open. I would hazard a guess that Garry Kingett will not let Sweatbox go easily!
ReplyDeleteFYI - my son posted this on his Facebook page "well it's official :/ got a text from Garry earlier saying Sweatbox WILL close on March 31st 2011 unless we convince the county council otherwise."
ReplyDeleteFrom the Wantage Herald "Conservative council leader Keith Mitchell said: “It is uncomfortable, but we have a national crisis in terms of the financial situation and we are all going to bear the pain.”
And he warned: “I fear petitions and protests will not be effective.”"
Guess it's done and dusted then :(
I do not believe it is done and dusted after attending this afternoon's briefing. After all, we have not yet received notice of the government settlement which is expected next week, plus the official budget is not agreed until February. Let me assure you that I am on the case and will update you as soon as I can.
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
ReplyDelete