Madam, What fate is to befall Ross Library? I quote from First Press, the Herefordshire Council newsletter: 'Due to budget restraints, there will no longer be an extension. But the library will be changed internally to house a wider range of services, such as customer service and the registrar service'.
Take a deep breath, but do not pause. The changes in the library must be completed by November when the Info Shop and the Tourist Office are due to vacate their current premises in Swan House.
We have to be realistic, the extension will not be built. But what is being planned? Is Ross Library going to be downsized? Are we going to lose the Dennis Potter room from our Library? What about the Marriage Room for weddings in the Registry in the Old Chapel? What about the commitments that were given to us when we fought long and hard against proposals to integrate the Library and Info Shop?
Rumours are rife, but when are Ross taxpayers going to be brought into the discussions? If there are going to be such far-reaching changes, then we should have a say. After all, who are the users of the Library, the Info Shop and the Registry? Maybe we have good ideas about how to preserve the best of the Library, Info and Registry facilities while rehousing the soon-to-be-homeless services.
Public consultation is urgently required.
Elinor Kelly, Chair of Ross Library Users Group