GRACE HILL LIBRARY SHOCK: MEETING SUNFLOWER HOUSE 7pm TUESDAY
I hope some members did put in some representations on the consultation on Kent County Council cuts by the time it finished on 26 March. We as Go Folkestone did, along the lines drafted and released to members last week, with some additions relating to late representations by members on the Gateway services for adults with needs, which were particularly important, and on Grace Hill Library. Gateway services may be saved. I apologise for the fact that the committee and others only read the drafts and commented rather than voting on them, but at the Go Folkestone meeting in April and thereafter we will bend our minds to construct a further response.
Currently KCC are putting the Grace Hill Library into mothballs as they have no budget for its repair this year (see stock letter below). Cheriton and Wood Avenue Libraries, and Sandgate Library, which is run separately by Sandgate Town Council, are extending opening hours. A month ago we heard that the Youth Hub ‘No.5’, situated in old shops in Grace Hill would be vacated, closed and the youth facility moved to Folkestone Library (!) or to the Early Years centre in Dover Road. It is already closed. Now it seems clear that the youth services will go to Early Years roundhouse, which we said, subject to members’ approval, is probably a bit out of the town centre for a youth building. The costs of repairing the library are stated to be £1.8 million. Whether there is more than one estimate, and what it covers are questions to be asked. Also, clearly the District Council can be criticised for lack of a programme of maintenance over recent years, following a failed initiative some years ago to instal a café which probably should have taken second place to a practical maintenance plan for the complex and expensive Victorian tile roof.
The Go Folkestone group asked in the original consultation that the magnificent building, Grace Hill Library, which we are anxious to safeguard as a facility and as a building of beauty, might take over some of the facilities of the Youth Hub which has disadvantages of access and layout We do realise, as of 24 March, that there is a large bill to repair and re-open the Grace Hill Library. If the library could be used for additional services, being central and very popular, that would justify repair of the property. However, if the library is to remain closed for years then that puts more of a spotlight on the possible new uses for Folca. Go Folkestone wants a lively town centre with as many publicly useful functions in the shopping area as possible including those youth and social services being reviewed. It might be that library and education services could go into Folca 2, the Art Deco former Debenhams, but we have not a set opinion yet. Our membership still has to absorb the bad news about the Grace Hill Library being closed for some time, and passionately defends the magnificent Grade II listed Grace Hill building.
We assume that other community organisations such as the New Folkestone Society and AFRA made representations of a similar type.
There is a public meeting at Sunflower House in Dover Road, near Grace Hill, which will cover several organisations. It takes place TOMORROW TUESDAY AT 7.00PM. All are welcome, but I feel as Chair of Go Folkestone that every organisation should pursue its own protests and, dare I say, solutions.
Kent County Council’s budget deficit is immense. I doubt a combination of amenity societies none of which exceed 280 members will do better than the very nervous councillors who are facing election in May. But if you wish to help represent Go Folkestone at those discussions please go along.
The powers that be, from recent conversations that I have sought, and the stock letter, seem to be set on moving the Folkestone Library to the town centre around Sandgate Road. This may turn out to be Folca 2 aka the Art Deco piece of Debenhams, which has the advantage of being a heritage building and of being owned by FHD Council. What other specifically KCC buildings may there be otherwise? How much would FHDC charge KCC or could there be a deal involving the Grace Hill building? I have heard that the Conservative Group, which is anxious to pull a rabbit from the hat before local elections in May is asking around all sorts of organisations to see if someone worthwhile can do something to preserve the magnificent Grace Hill building IF the library moves to the town centre in a year or so. Having a closed, decaying main library is not an election winner. A possible proposal that the Town Council takes over Grace Hill, a main library, is doing the rounds but seems an impossibility as the Town Council is relatively small. However, FTC has a new Town Clerk who may want to get actively involved in the problem in some way to earn his spurs. A proposal that I have heard within the Council that Sir Roger De Haan develop Grace Hill as a modern Triennial Art Gallery would be wonderful but sounds rather like the organisational equivalent of The Bank of Mum and Dad. Influential councillors are telling me that residential redevelopment of Grace Hill Library within the preserved shell of the listed building a la Royal Victoria Hospital is not an option, which I thought might be in their minds. But if something attractive isn’t proposed then the Conservatives in Folkestone, and even the MP, will be badly affected. And I speak as a Tory.
Those Go Folkestone members who had the pleasure of listening to Guy Hollaway, the most influential local architect, at our excellent March meeting, talking about the potential for the town centre to be altered around the bus station site, may remember his view that the significant shops, services and buildings of the town centre would have to be concentrated at most between Bouverie Square and Harbour Square. This does seem sensible, and the moving of the library may be part of it. Grace Hill Library must be saved as a building, but it may not be the best layout or location for 21st century Folkestone. Unless there is a definite and acceptable plan for it though, we have, I would suggest, to demand neglected accrued repairs be done and the library re-opened.
Appendix 1: The stock KCC letter about Library closure – note the emphasis on moving to the town centre.
‘Since the unavoidable closure of Folkestone Library a few months ago, due to the Health and Safety issues, KCC has been investigating the extent of works needed to bring the building back into use and exploring ways to fund the necessary repairs.
KCC is committed to a town centre library for Folkestone but unfortunately, at the moment is not able to commit the budget required to carry out the work to the existing building – currently estimated at over £1.8million. The amount of work is more significant than KCC had anticipated and KCC has to be realistic that in the current challenging financial climate any spend has to be prioritised. It cannot at present fund the level of work needed at Folkestone Library.
KCC will continue to explore other funding options and will continue to deliver a library service from the nearest alternative libraries until the situation changes. KCC will also explore other potential town centre locations that Folkestone library could move into but realistically this will take some time.
In order to protect the library collections in a secure and safe environment, further stock will be distributed to the other district libraries, with the remainder going into storage to ensure these vital local collections are protected until they can return to Folkestone Library.
Folkestone Library will have to remain closed until the required funding is available, or an alternative town centre venue is found. KCC will update as soon as there are any significant developments.
KCC recognises that this will be very disappointing news as it is to KCC.
We will over the next few days be updating as many of our customers as possible through all the channels available to us and appreciate your support in passing this update on as well.’
Appendix 2: Go Folkestone’s draft representation on the original KCC consultation, which was actually about youth and social services being ‘co-located’ and slimmed down.
Go Folkestone understands the background to KCC closures and other ideas and its nearly 300 members will try and propose some constructive parameters and ideas.
Firstly, we urge the County Council to reach out to the various De Haan organisations which are doing a lot for youth. This means F51, which includes a boxing club as well as the skate park and might have limited space for other groups. Also, the Three Hills’ Sports Centre which again is a big building with a sports’ grounds, including a new athletics’ track catering massively for youth already. It clearly may have some space and ideas even if it doesn’t financially contribute to KCC programmes. They are aware of your consultation now.
Secondly while GF has limited things to say about some of these Consultation areas, being mainly an Over 50s organisation, we do have strong views over other County Council areas that must not suffer. Please don’t move resources from planning and transport work because in our representations in those areas currently we have seen some signs of strain in that KCC have been stretched on planning comments, on work on cycling projects such as the Cheriton cycling proposals and the like. Please don’t move resources from green ideas such as tree planting, and indeed use more youth in Green Canopy projects such as trees for schools.
Thirdly, as well-informed locals, Go Folkestone members can see that there is potential to save money by co-location and using existing buildings. The Civic Centre in Castle Hill Avenue has big spaces if the County Council can use them at Mates’ Rates and possibly share staff. The magnificent Grace Hill Library, which we are anxious to safeguard as a facility and as a building of beauty, is near to the Youth Hub in Grace Hill, which has disadvantages of layout and access. The new small meeting room in 11 Grace Hill, being built currently, may be a very cheap venue for KCC exhibitions, interviews etc. We do feel that Motis House is probably quite an accessible and bargain location for County Council functions, being edge of town but near a bus route, and that Dover Road roundhouse is an excellent location because of the needs of the district and the parking and public transport provision there. However, the Early Years centre is rather out of the centre for a youth facility, whereas Grace Hill Library is in the town centre but easily reached from the neglected areas of East Folkestone.
We do realise, as of 24 March, that there is a large bill to repair and re-open the Grace Hill Library. If the library could be used for additional services, being central and very popular, that would justify repair of the property. However, if the library is to remain closed for years then that puts more of a spotlight on the possible new uses for Folca. Go Folkestone wants a lively town centre with as many publicly useful functions in the shopping area as possible including those youth and social services being reviewed. It might be that library and education services could go into Folca 2, the Art Deco former Debenhams, but we have not a set opinion yet. Our membership still has to absorb the bad news about the Grace Hill Library being closed for some time, and passionately defends the magnificent Grade II listed Grace Hill building.
Fourthly if you wish to use other diverse and motivated volunteer-assisted avenues for youth and green policies look at The Shed at Bradstone Avenue Urban Wilderness where Ruth Tyler does excellent work. Also, worth contacting enthusiasts’ groups such as Cycle Shepway, the re-activating Folkestone Music Town group and even clubs such as the Junior Chess Club, all of which are expanding.
Go Folkestone are also willing to help with all ages on tree planting and watering projects, and even give journalistic or website experience, if you wish to contact us via info@gofolkestone.org.uk.
Fifthly our members are saying that it would be a great shame/tragic if the Gateway and special needs offerings are to be reduced/stopped. Several families we know, with adults to care for, heavily rely on these services for all sorts of reasons, including social interaction, mutual support and knowledge exchange.
Go Folkestone is a community group of 260-280 local people which carries out projects, publishes a magazine and comments on local developments.