A Ledbury resident is leading the call for action to revive the town’s apparently dormant library project.
Ron Allen says Herefordshire Council’s decision to delay the construction of a new library and information centre is unwarranted.
Mr Allen, of Fairfields Road, says the project is vital to future generations and will prove a worthy tourist attraction. He said: “Capital funding had been committed, and, it was understood, ring-fenced. Leominster, Bromyard, Kington and Ross-on-Wye have all benefited from similar support, why hesitate with Ledbury?”
“The sum involved, compared with that which is being lavished in Hereford, is relatively modest. How often do members of the planning committee have the chance to make a decision about such an exciting and imaginative scheme, one which, when complete will serve generations of Ledbury and district residents for years to come.
“It will add to the prosperity, the vitality and the spirit of our town and make it even more attractive to visitors at home and abroad.”
He added that timber buttressing currently supporting the site for the development, the Master’s House, is a ‘depressing spectacle’.
Capital funding of £2.9million was allocated to the project in 2008 and despite lengthy consultations, no plans have been submitted. Mr Allen’s sentiments were echoed by mayor of
Ledbury councillor Paul Winter who recently vented the town council’s frustrations in a letter to Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for community services, Adrian Blackshaw.
“It’s becoming an unacceptable situation for us to be in,” he said. “People are becoming increasingly frustrated and want to make that very clear to Herefordshire Council.”
Councillor Winter said that funding for the project had been allocated before the recently announced budget cuts brought about by the change in government.
In a statement, Herefordshire Council said: “Herefordshire Council is committed to modernising library provision in Ledbury as part of its range of public services. The council is also
exploring a number of options for the most effective use of the available public buildings in Ledbury in the face of a very challenging financial environment.”