Public Meeting Report
A Public Meeting was convened on 13th July 2006 and attended by 118 local residents from Twyford, Charvil, Ruscombe, Hurst and Sonning to discuss the library provision in Twyford. Many individuals attended as representatives from local groups, and many more individuals sent apologies.
The following summarises key points made at the meeting:
There is overwhelming support from all sections of the Twyford and wider community to relocate the library to JW Greens – young, elderly, business, minority groups and from surrounding villages.
There remain unanswered questions surrounding the allocation of Section 106 monies to cultural and library development in Twyford by the District Council.
There is dissatisfaction within the community at Wokingham District Council’s reluctance to honor its commitments to developing a centrally located library.
The meeting called on the Council to seize the opportunity of purchasing JW Greens and create a new library in central Twyford.
Meeting Outline
The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of Governors, Polehampton CofE Junior School, and was addressed by three speakers from the local community representing differing perspectives, key points from their presentations are summarised below:
Cedric Gilson, Chair TVCMI
Twyford remains under provided for, given the extent and scope of its enlargement. JW Greens is a perfect location for access and regeneration of the village centre.
Kathy Peck, Chair Twyford & Ruscombe Toddler Group
The current library is woefully inadequate for local carers with difficult access and limited opening hours. Libraries demonstratively increase literacy and educational levels for children. JW Greens would be a wonderful location for a new library and possibly house Twyford’s new children’s centre and/or a community crèche facility for local families.
Norman Raybone, Chair SCOF
Twyford is the hub for the northern parishes in Wokingham and is a natural location for a decent library facility – providing easy access for older and disabled residents. Recent suggestions that the new Crossrail rail transport system be extended to Twyford would only increase pressure on the village and extend it further. The current library was built over 20 years ago is running well past its known shelf life.
In addition, an email statement from Cllr Dianne King, Executive Member with responsibility for Community Development was read out.
The following summarises key points raised during public discussion:
Chair Over60s and Derby & Joan Club – the provision of a library must be in the centre of the village to bring life back into the centre, the lack of one being “an absolute disgrace”.
Citizen, member of numerous local societies – questioning concerning the amount of capital which might be available and where Section 106 monies have been allocated for Twyford following Waitrose’s move into the village.
Members of both Twyford and Charvil Parish Councils spoke in full support of the proposal purchase of JW Greens.
Chair Twyford & Ruscombe Art Group – requested a hall for exhibitions in line with general support for library provision which would provide extended services for the community.
Local business representative from Twyford Interiors – small businesses continue to struggle in Twyford, a central community hub would help ‘keep’ and develop custom in the village.
Individual local residents made the following observations:
The library would become a village hub, drawing people further into the village.
The loss of the current portacabin would necessitate a review of the storage of invaluable local history society archives which could be displayed in a new library facility.
A centrally located library would provide a wonderful community space for wider activities eg. poetry/counselling/meeting rooms/house the current thriving book club in the community.
The meeting was closed with a poem written by Kevin Power dedicated to Twyford Library.
Conclusion
It was agreed that key points from the meeting be written up and submitted to Wokingham District Council with a request that the Council seizes the opportunity to purchase JW Greens to provide a decent library service and benefit the whole of the northern parishes of the Wokingham district.
The following summarises key points made at the meeting:
There is overwhelming support from all sections of the Twyford and wider community to relocate the library to JW Greens – young, elderly, business, minority groups and from surrounding villages.
There remain unanswered questions surrounding the allocation of Section 106 monies to cultural and library development in Twyford by the District Council.
There is dissatisfaction within the community at Wokingham District Council’s reluctance to honor its commitments to developing a centrally located library.
The meeting called on the Council to seize the opportunity of purchasing JW Greens and create a new library in central Twyford.
Meeting Outline
The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of Governors, Polehampton CofE Junior School, and was addressed by three speakers from the local community representing differing perspectives, key points from their presentations are summarised below:
Cedric Gilson, Chair TVCMI
Twyford remains under provided for, given the extent and scope of its enlargement. JW Greens is a perfect location for access and regeneration of the village centre.
Kathy Peck, Chair Twyford & Ruscombe Toddler Group
The current library is woefully inadequate for local carers with difficult access and limited opening hours. Libraries demonstratively increase literacy and educational levels for children. JW Greens would be a wonderful location for a new library and possibly house Twyford’s new children’s centre and/or a community crèche facility for local families.
Norman Raybone, Chair SCOF
Twyford is the hub for the northern parishes in Wokingham and is a natural location for a decent library facility – providing easy access for older and disabled residents. Recent suggestions that the new Crossrail rail transport system be extended to Twyford would only increase pressure on the village and extend it further. The current library was built over 20 years ago is running well past its known shelf life.
In addition, an email statement from Cllr Dianne King, Executive Member with responsibility for Community Development was read out.
The following summarises key points raised during public discussion:
Chair Over60s and Derby & Joan Club – the provision of a library must be in the centre of the village to bring life back into the centre, the lack of one being “an absolute disgrace”.
Citizen, member of numerous local societies – questioning concerning the amount of capital which might be available and where Section 106 monies have been allocated for Twyford following Waitrose’s move into the village.
Members of both Twyford and Charvil Parish Councils spoke in full support of the proposal purchase of JW Greens.
Chair Twyford & Ruscombe Art Group – requested a hall for exhibitions in line with general support for library provision which would provide extended services for the community.
Local business representative from Twyford Interiors – small businesses continue to struggle in Twyford, a central community hub would help ‘keep’ and develop custom in the village.
Individual local residents made the following observations:
The library would become a village hub, drawing people further into the village.
The loss of the current portacabin would necessitate a review of the storage of invaluable local history society archives which could be displayed in a new library facility.
A centrally located library would provide a wonderful community space for wider activities eg. poetry/counselling/meeting rooms/house the current thriving book club in the community.
The meeting was closed with a poem written by Kevin Power dedicated to Twyford Library.
Conclusion
It was agreed that key points from the meeting be written up and submitted to Wokingham District Council with a request that the Council seizes the opportunity to purchase JW Greens to provide a decent library service and benefit the whole of the northern parishes of the Wokingham district.
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