Fighting the proposed closure of Ewell Court Library

Residents threatened by the proposed closure of Ewell Court Library turned out in force to lobby the recent meeting of SCC's Epsom & Ewell Local Committee. The were not disappointed, for the committee unanimously passed a motion proposed by the Mayor and seconded by Cllr Colin Taylor calling upon SCC's Executive not to confirm their Business Delivery Review's proposal to close Ewell Court Library.

The local committee heard about a packed meeting held by the Friends of Ewell Court Library a few days previously, chaired by Cllr Nigel Pavey, and agreed that closure of this well-regarded facility would:

• have an adverse effect on local residents - particularly the elderly, young children and the disabled, not only in Ewell Court but also in the adjoining areas of West Ewell and Ruxley,
• contribute to social exclusion,
• damage the image of the County Council as a provider of a much valued local service,
• not achieve a large enough saving to justify the many disadvantage if its proposed closure.

Seconding the motion, Colin Taylor said that although he represented a division at the other end of the Borough, he was glad to be able to support the unique situation in Ewell Court, where the Park, Ewell Court House and the Library form such an important focus for the local community.

He went on to confirm that SCC's Liberal Democrats were opposing all six proposed library closures in Surrey, on the basis that no money would be saved, and residents everywhere had confirmed that keeping the existing libraries open was far more important than introducing longer opening hours but having a smaller number of libraries.