Another protest against library move is planned
‘TAKE A STRONG, HARD LOOK’ AT BENEFITS OF MARKET HALL PLAN, SAYS IMPROVEMENTS GROUP BOSS
CAMPAIGNERS opposed to controversial plans to move Burton Library into the town’s market hall and shift traders out are planning a second protest.
The Save Our Market group will be holding the protest in the Market Place starting at noon on Saturday, September 11. The proposal is to move the library from its currently building off High Street into the historic market hall, which would mean traders moving out to elsewhere in the town.
There was a similar protest by the group in May against the plans put forward by the Burton Town Deal Board, which has successfully bid for £22.8 million to spend on projects aimed at improving the town and attracting more shoppers to boost the economy.
The library plan would see its current large building closed and making way for a marina-style development. Campaigners do not want to lose the current library or market hall.
The Town Deal Board says the library plan, which would cost £7.3 million to implement, would secure the future of the market hall and attract more people into the heart of the town centre.
However, the group has contested this, claiming that the library is one of the most popular in the county, with event organiser Brandon Fleet saying: “Thousands use the library every week and it is one of the most popular libraries in the county.”
Government Minister for Regional Growth and Local Government Luke Hall said on a visit to Burton of the library plan: “It sounds like the council has a really strong and clear plan to make sure there is a sustainable future for the Market Hall. It is such a beautiful and impressive building that I am excited to hear about the plans here.”
However, a petition had been set up which gained more than 2,400 signatures, with protestors claiming that there has been a lack of public consultation to the controversial proposal.
Chairman of Burton Town Deal Board Ben Robinson has said: “When I was asked to be involved I thought ‘wow’ what an amazing opportunity to apply for £25m to invest in our communities to create great facilities for future generations.
“I saw the protest created [in Burton against the proposals] and looked back at the previous proposals for pop-up stalls and moving the traders to Station Street that attracted a petition of 4,000. The recent petition is [signed by] 2,300.
“About 5,000 people protested in Lichfield [against the moving of their library] and now they think it is wonderful; what an amazing facility.
“If this project doesn’t go ahead what scheme is going to be created and delivered to ensure this amazing building [the Market Hall] with great history is sustained for future generations?
“It is quite clear that in the Market Hall you see [the traders there now] but if you turn the clock back it was booming, we had a butcher, fishmongers, a whole plethora that’s not there. And if you look into the competition, if you look at what Primark is delivering and that has affected the market.
“We have this marvellous opportunity to invest all this money into the community and we need to be focused now on the next process which means each project puts forward their business case and a process of engagement with the community. And only at the end of that process can there be any question of alternatives. The Government has stated that the switching of any projects cannot be considered until this process has taken place and even then there is no guarantee that that money will be available.
“The Burton public need to take a strong, hard look and see the benefit of that money coming into the community because the reality is that with this building a lot of money needs to be spent and if this doesn’t go ahead that spend will come out of taxpayers’ money.”