Councillors crank up the pressure to reinstate bus
Councillors are demanding answers from Renfrewshire Council and Renfrewshire Leisure over the return of the mobile library bus.
The service was ditched at the end of April after visits had dropped 65 per cent in the last five years.
In a letter to service users, Renfrewshire Leisure said it no longer provided “good value for money”.
However, Labour councillors Derek Bibby and Carolann Davidson had a motion passed at the full council meeting on May 3, which agreed the service would be reinstated.
But almost three months on, the pair are concerned that there has been little or no communication as to when this will happen, leaving mobile library users in the lurch.
Councillor Davidson said: “It’s a valuable service. The administration argued that everything is digital just now but a lot of people using the mobile library were elderly or don’t have access to computers.
“We need the written book and I think it’s extremely important people have access to books.
“Not everyone can get to a library. Over in villages, they just don’t have them.
“They want everybody to read books online. That’s just not realistic.
“Digital things are great if you have the access to it or know how to use it but even if you do, as a society we need books.
“It’s nearly three months and they’ve still done nothing about it. We need it reinstated.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Bibby said he hoped the elected members who had voted for the mobile library’s return were not being ignored.
He said: “I sincerely hope that the lack of information and action in regard to the reinstatement of the mobile library bus is not an indication that the democratic decision of the council made on May 3 is being ignored.
“Those who represent the people of Renfrewshire have spoken and decided that the mobile library must be reinstated.
“The public need to know when and soon.”
Renfrewshire Leisure confirmed a decision will not be made regarding the motion until its next board meeting.
The organisaiton’s chief executive Joyce McKellar said: “The Renfrewshire Leisure board will consider the terms of the motion at the next board meeting in August and will response directly to Renfrewshire Council on the outcome.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesman added: “Renfrewshire Leisure were advised of the motion approved by the council on May 3 and were asked to consider the terms of the motion.
“Renfrewshire Leisure have confirmed this will be done at their next board meeting in August.”