Choose wisely, choose Boyn Grove library

Last week RBWM announced its intention to consult on the closure of Boyn Grove

Librar y.

This revelation was buried undemocratically on page 97 of their report.

I would like to thank the 250+ residents and Councillors who immediately signed up to the petition (at petitions.rbwm.gov.uk/ saveboyngrove/).

This rapid support played a crucial role in the discussion at cabinet on Thursday, and I did my best to represent this strength of feeling at the meeting when invited to speak.

To their credit, Councillors Johnson and Rayner were clearly open to listening to residents’ feedback, so please continue to share this petition with your neighbours and friends, and also participate in the upcoming RBWM consultation.

Every voice will certainly count.

Boyn Grove library was only opened in 2015 by the Countess of Wessex and was immediately well loved and used by ever yone.

It’s in walkable distance of multiple schools, with excellent parking and accessibility.

It’s used by residents with dementia.

It has high levels of book borrowing, with an excellent selection of new books, and holds special events that attract families.

For many of us, our main contact with the council and its services is through the library. The staff are astonishing in their dedication and knowledge.

They are, in truth, ambassadors for

RBWM – and should be valued by the council every bit as much as they are by residents.

I put it to Cllr Johnson that there is always a choice to be made, and that even in the current financial position, RBWM certainly does have the money needed to protect library services in full.

It’s just a question of spending priorities. The consultation results will likely surprise no-one, and the cost should instead be invested in libraries and librarians surely?

If the council cannot afford libraries, then how is it that we can afford the luxury of having two managing directors (one for the council, and one for its property company)?

And if we can’t afford libraries, then how is that we can afford the luxury of paying councillors £224,000 for the ‘special responsibility’ of chairing Zoom meetings?

This is an honour, and a privilege isn’t it? I would do it for free to save libraries.

These two measures alone would likely find the necessary savings – indeed it would probably cover the costs of saving Datchet, Sunningdale and Old Windsor libraries from closure too.

Politicians will often refer to ‘difficult decisions’. meaning the expectation of sacrifices from others.

I concluded my speech by asking councillors bluntly – do they want to be the kind of councillors that save their luxuries, or the kind of councillors that save our libraries?

I trust they will choose wisely.

ANDREW HILL Rutland Gate Maidenhead