Church Stretton Library Support Group give presentation Shropshire Council

The presentation was made at a full council meeting at the Shirehall in Shrewsbury. The presentation was made possible by the huge response to a petition to keep the library where it is which attracted over 1100 signatures.

Over 20 library support group members travelled to the Shirehall to support Hazel and to make it clear to all councillors that there is overwhelming support for the library where it is now, in the heart of Church Stretton.

Campaigners say the current location is ideally suited to the older population, much more accessible than the school on the edge of town, better for the attractive mix of independent retailers and cafes in Church Stretton and well suited to the concept of a community hub with the library at its centre but with many other activities pulling in volunteers and users into the library space.

Commenting on Hazel’s speech and on the full Council meeting Felicity Thomas, spokesperson for the library support group said:

“We are delighted that we had the opportunity to take our arguments to the most important democratic decision making body in Shropshire. Councillors now have no excuse whatsoever for not understanding the case for retention and have been left in no doubt that a decision to rip the library out of the heart of our community will not be tolerated or forgotten by the vast majority of residents and voters who support retention.”