BURN CALORIES, HELP THE PLANET AND BE ENTERTAINED - WALK TO YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY!

Burn calories, save money and help the planet by walking to your local library during North East Lincolnshire Council’s Walk to Libraries Week.

More than 88 per cent of residents in the borough live within one mile of a library and from Monday, September 28 to Sunday, October 4, the library service will be encouraging people to walk to their local library.

Councillor Steve Hocknell, portfolio holder for culture, leisure and healthier communities, said: “Everybody who walks to their library during the week will be entered into a free prize draw to be in with the chance of winning prizes including walking books and free tickets to North East Lincolnshire literature and comedy festival events.

“We would like to get as many of our customers as possible walking to the library this week and welcome new members too. Walking to Library signs have been placed in Grimsby and Cleethorpes indicating the length of time it will take to walk to the nearest library.

“Anyone can enjoy the library for free and members can use the internet, choose from thousands of books, join a readers’ group and discover their family history.”

Shirley Allen, aged 74, walks to Waltham Library about three times a week and feels so much healthier for it. She said: “I was advised by my doctor to walk everyday and it has certainly helped with my back problems.

“I am a long term member of the library and look forward to my regular visits. I help run the library’s reading group and always encourage other members to walk instead of ride to the library.
“It is also so much better for the environment and saves money on fuel.”

The initiative is a partnership project between the council’s library service and the transportation service. Councillor Burgess, portfolio for environment and the green agenda is urging people to stop and think before they get into their car. He said: “This project is about encouraging people to think about how they travel to public services.

“You don’t have to rely on the fact that you have to drive everywhere. People always overestimate walking distances. In North East Lincolnshire over 64,000 households live within one mile of a library.”

For further information about Walk to Libraries Week, including events and activities available in all libraries throughout the week, ring (01472) 323600 or visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/leisure/libraries

A NEW CHAPTER IS BEING RE-WRITTEN IN THE HISTORY OF GRANT THOROLD LIBRARY: CHAPTER TWO “THUMBS UP”

A new chapter will begin for book borrowers with the construction of a £2-million library at Grant Thorold Park.

North East Lincolnshire Council planners have approved a revised plan for the new library, at the junction of Humberston Road and Durban Road.

It will replace the existing 40-year-old library at the junction of Durban Road and Roberts Street, described as “dilapidated” and which is subsiding.

But it has continued to attract more visitors and is the third busiest in the borough.

Council planners heard the number of visitors was increasing at six per cent per year, with 79,000 visitors last year.

Revised plans included more CCTV cameras and increased car parking and access to the site.
Councillor Steve Beasant (Liberal Democrat, East Marsh) said: “It is going to be fantastic and raise aspirations in the community.

“This will be more than a library, it will a fabulous community it will benefit the whole the East Marsh and the surrounding wards such as Heneage and Sidney Sussex.

“The council has worked for benefit of the community on this building to overcome many of the problems by including increased CCTV and improvements to the road junction – this is great news.”

The new library will have a meeting room for up to 20 people that can host mother-and-toddler groups, health training and a place for police to give advice to residents.

The single-storey building will have a “living wall” feature and a mural wall.

Friends of Grant Thorold Park chairman Rob Powlesland said: “It will be a well-used facility that will reduce the incidence of anti- social behaviour.”

In April, councillors rejected the plan from the council’s own cultural services department.

They were concerned about the new library becoming a Mecca for troublemakers. But the head of cultural services, Steve Hipkins, said: “We have extended the CCTV scheme to include all points around the building.

“Mural walls have been proved elsewhere to reduce graffiti and promote a sense of ownership and pride among young people.”

New facilities will include high-bandwidth access to the Internet and a study support centre to teach computer skills.

He said: “We will provide a modern environment with face-on book displays, comfortable seating and study space.”

Library supervisor Penny Wood said: “I think it’s going to be brilliant for the area.

“We are the third busiest library in North East Lincolnshire and a lot of children use the library.

“We are really pleased because the current building is quite dated and there are problems with subsidence. The new building will be quite modern-looking building and will blend in quite well with its surroundings.”

A NEW LIBRARY FOR THE EAST MARSH

Some time back North East Lincolnshire Council unveiled plans for a new Grant Thorold Branch Library and the plans were originally discussed at the Planning Committee on April 8; however elected member rejected the council’s proposals.

New amended plans were recently submitted by our local council for this much needed facility; which will be in the heart of the East Marsh Ward; as well as serving the needs of the East Marsh many residents from the adjoining wards use the facility.

On Wednesday, as a new member of the Planning Committee I was able to attend the meeting and use my vote wisely – I am pleased to say the plans were approved overwhelmingly.

In the Design and Access statement our council stated that “Grant Thorold Library is the third busiest in the borough. It has annual visits of 79,000 a year, and over the last 5 years has seen an increase of 56% in visits, the highest of all libraries. It serves an area of high deprivation with low literacy and low educational attainment and high levels of anti social behaviour. The library has been successful in engaging the community in activities related to literacy, numeracy, health, informal learning, and digital skills. It has become a popular venue for partners such as health trainers, study support, adult community learning, connexions, and the police. The library has been particularly successful in providing diversionary activities for young people to support reductions in anti social behaviour.

The proposed library has been designed to fit in with the existing park environment and to tackle the issues of anti social behaviour. The green walls, fronting Durban Road and Humberstone Road, are designed to reflect the hedge that will be removed as part of this proposal. There are sufficient differences to ensure the building is noticed and noted, but not too stark a contrast that the building will stand out as a structure that should not be there… There is a mural wall within the design that will be managed and looked after by library services. Evidence shows that by involving young people in the design and implementation of a mural, changing each season that they will come to take pride in the building and help to maintain its appearance.”

At Wednesday’s meeting, I was pleased to move approval of the officer’s recommendation, and said: “This is a much needed facility, a community facility that is in the heart of a deprived community were educational attainment is low. We need to raise the aspirations of our young people and the staff and the Library work hard with young people of the area; they help to motivate the young people, build up their confidence, and assist them in their learning.

“I am sure that this building will become a community hub for all residents - not just young. It will also benefit the wider area; I am naturally speaking up for the East Marsh, but the Library is well used by the residents of the Heneage and the Sidney Sussex Wards. I hope all members will support the recommendations.”

To view the plans in full

>>>>>>CLICK HERE

NEW ONLINE POLL – WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A NEW LIBRARY BUILT IN GRANT THOROLD PARK?

Today, I am launching a online poll: you have a simple choice. Would you like to see a new Library built in Grant Thorold Park?

All three East Marsh Ward Councillors have campaigned for a new Library for the East Marsh Ward – the present Library is in urgent need of replacement – it is presently subsiding.

North East Lincolnshire Council is committed to rebuilding a new Library, but members of the Planning Committee voted against the Planning Officer’s recommendation, which appears a little unusual.

The present Library is well used by children, young people, adults, and the elderly – it is one of the most popular Community libraries in the whole of the Borough. Some residents have argued that the new Library would create anti-social behaviour; however many young people presently use the Library as a safe haven and a meeting place – they just meet to have a chat. What is wrong with that, they respect the building and we are sure that they will respect the new building.

The computers are well used, and they are a vital facility for the local residents; in particular local children who often do not have access to a home PC.

If you would like to view the proposed plans for the new and the reasons why the Councillors turned it down

>>>>CLICK HERE

Don’t forget to make sure you vote in this online poll; this poll will close on April 21, 2009.

Tonight’s Grimsby Evening Telegraph leads with a story on page four that North East Lincolnshire Council Planning Committee rejected the application from the council’s own library services – the committee voted eight to three against the proposals for the futuristic building. On this occasion elected members overturned the recommendations of the Planning Officers who believed that the proposals were perfectly acceptable.

Agents NELC architectural Consultancy, had hoped the state-of-the-art project on Durban Road would replace the current library facilities – which have been earmarked for demolition and were described as “out-of-date”.

Unfortunately, 16 residents who live opposite the proposed development had signed a petition objecting to the plans – which included nine parking spaces – saying they were concerned about the impact on their lives, access and potential anti-social behaviour.

In the days before the Planning Committee I worked closely with fellow ward Councillor; Jon-Paul Howarth with the aim of making sure the application was approved. Unfortunately, I was unable to speak at the meeting; therefore Jon-Paul spoke on behalf of all three East Marsh Ward Councillors, he said: the library would be monitored by CCTV.

He also said the building had green credentials thanks to its planned “living wall” which would have a hedge growing in it.

He said: “It is long overdue and the building is aspirational.”

In the last few hours I have heard from many residents that they are concerned that the Library may not built - they want action NOW!

They have called a meeting of local residents at Grant Thorold Library on Tuesday, 14 April at 12 noon; the local media have been invited along with local Councillors, East Marsh Action Group, Friends of Grant Thorold Park and members of East Marsh Involve.

If you want to make sure that Grant Thorold Library is re-built don’t forget to be in the park next Tuesday, 14 April.