Since the Council has revealed to the public its intention to relocate Strood Library to Strood High Street under the guise of Community Hub Centre, several stakeholders (including charities, community groups and over two thousand individuals through letters and signed petitions) expressed displeasure against the Council’s incredibly unpopular intention.
In this regard, is the Council leadership going to listen to the displeased voices of Strood residents and stakeholders who elected them and stop taking any further action that will polarise rather than unite our peaceful community?
Minutes:
Since the Council has revealed to the public its intention to relocate Strood Library to Strood High Street under the guise of Community Hub Centre, several stakeholders (including charities, community groups and over two thousand individuals through letters and signed petitions) expressed displeasure against the Council’s incredibly unpopular intention.
In this regard, is the Council leadership going to listen to the displeased voices of Strood residents and stakeholders who elected them and stop taking any further action that will polarise rather than unite our peaceful community?
Councillor Chitty stated she would answer this question in two parts. She referred to the Cultural Strategy which had been put forward in 2009 and had been warmly welcomed. She also referred to the plans that were put forward in connection with the Tesco development. Tesco was not paying the full amount for any development in relation to the library as it was a Section 106 Agreement, therefore it was only part of what was available at the time. She stated that people in Strood were absolutely delighted at the prospect of bringing the library into the High Street. They were very much for it and indeed the proposals for 133 High Street were very similar to the previous proposals. Under those circumstances people really wanted and were very much behind bringing Council services into the heart of the community. It was not just about library services, it was about other services where many people across Strood did not have easy access to Council offices. This would give access not only to elderly and vulnerable people but to the community at large and so therefore it was very warmly welcomed.
Councillor Chitty referred to the second part of the question and stated that this was enormously important because there had been a great deal of misunderstanding in relation to the issue of the Strood Community Project. She referred to Mr Robinson, Chief Executive of the Strood Community Project (SCP), and stated that any dealings that the SCP had in relation to 133 High Street were with the agents and the owners of that property and not Medway Council. She added that the Council had worked very closely with the Strood Community Project, in particular assisting them in terms of European funding.
Councillor Chitty also stated that she had spent quite some time looking at those people that had signed the petition. They were from Nottingham, Hertfordshire, Charlton, Stepney, Bexleyheath, Swanley, Erith, Dartford, Gravesend, Maidstone, Shorne, High Halstow, Cobham, Burham, Westerham, Whistable, Harpenden, Larkfield, Chigwell, Spain and France. There also appeared to be a disproportionate number of signatures from people elsewhere across Medway. She stated that she would ask Councillor Doe to ensure there would be a good information campaign so people were properly and fully informed.
Councillor Igwe asked, that given Councillor Doe had stated that one of the reasons for relocating Strood Library was to revitalise the High Street, whether Councillor Chitty could name any empty shop in the High Street at the moment.
Councillor Chitty referred to the former motor shop.
(Councillor Igwe invited Councillors Doe and Chitty to attend the Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 30 January 2014 when some residents would be coming along in respect of the petitions item on the Strood Community Hub).