Rebellion talk over library

Feb 4 2009 by Matt Hurst, Bromborough and Bebington News

THE seeds of rebellion have been sown among Liberal Democrat councillors ahead of the council meeting that will decide Eastham library’s fate.

More than 200 people packed into a meeting called by Eastham councillors, Tom Harney, Dave Mitchell and Phil Gilchrist on Sunday, to vent their fury at the lack of consultation allowed residents following council leader Cllr Steve Foulkes’ decision to reverse Bromborough library’s proposed closure and bring the axe down on Eastham’s facility.

To make matters even more difficult for the ward’s elected members, a gathering of the Lib Dem group planned for Monday night was cancelled due to snow.

There will now be no opportunity for Cllrs Harney, Mitchell and Gilchrist to present their amendment to colleagues and take a vote, ahead of the full council meeting on February 9.

The anger remains palpable within sections of the group and Cllr Dave Mitchell has called his own party’s consultation process “flawed”.

Cllr Mitchell told the News: “We told people exactly what our views are and they are 100% behind us.

“The residents have been treated like second-class citizens because they have not had the opportunity to enter into this consultation.

“People are not just disgusted, they feel they have been totally ignored.”

Paul Simm has lived in the village for 20 years and regularly uses the library.

He says people “feel that the Lib Dems are letting them down” and adds that his thoughts are now turning to a potential legal challenge in the wake of any negative outcome at Monday’s meeting.

Cllr Mitchell, who resigned his party whip, indicated he and his two ward colleagues will vote with their consciences.

He said: “The people of Eastham voted me in, not the political party.

“It’s the people of Eastham who I answer to first and foremost.”

And he revealed that others were prepared to join them.

Cllr Mitchell said: “One or two colleagues have expressed that they would be happy to support the view that we are taking.”

In principle, and assuming the Conservatives vote against, a minimum of nine Lib Dem councillors, out of a total of 20, would need to vote against their party to reject the Strategic Asset Review.