A PUBLIC consultation has taken place in Burley-in-Wharfedale on the future of two of the public buildings in the village, which concluded with a public presentation in the Queens Hall on Saturday, February 3.

The event was jointly organised by Burley Parish Council (BPC) and the Save Our Library Site group (SOLS).

The consultation included completing a questionnaire, compiled by the parish council with four options: A) to refurbish both buildings; B) refurbish the Queens Hall and improve the current library building; C) provide library services from a refurbished Queens Hall; D) no refurbishment of either building, until the future financial situation is established.

SOLS also had the same questionnaire, to which was added: E) dilapidation repairs and new roof to Queens Hall and refresh the library.

This consultation received 335 replies, with the result: A = 23.6%, B = 41.8%, C = 23.3%, D = 11.3%; and 221 replies to the SOLS questionnaire, with the result: A = 19.6%, B = 27.2%, C = 2.2%, D = 12%, E = 39%. Of the 556 replies received, it can be identified that a minority of people wish to dispose of the library (C = 13%) and an overwhelming majority of people (A, B, E = 75%) want to keep the library.

Councillor Gerry Barker (Con, Wharfedale) said: “May I thank all those who took part in the consultation process to comment on the future of those buildings and the options to improve both the library and the Queens Hall buildings, or to sell the library building.

“At this week’s parish council meeting, it was suggested that, because of the relatively low turnout to vote, that most residents don’t care! I don’t believe that this is true and it must not be used as a convenient fact to dispose of the library. It is a well-known fact that most elections/consultations have low turnouts, but that does not invalidate their results. How would we govern this country if that response applied to the General Election?

“However, it does beg the question: why have a consultation if you don’t take notice of the people who take part? A previous enquiry with limited information, conducted by BPC, was held in August 2016, that resulted in replies from 112 people being in favour of disposing of the library. However, a petition conducted by SOLS in November 2016, with detailed information, resulted in 1,122 people who wanted to save the library, but was deemed as irrelevant(!) by the parish council. In September, under pressure from residents, the parish council agreed to postpone a decision for six months pending consultation.

“District councillors Dale Smith, Jackie Whiteley and myself have campaigned to retain both buildings for the village, because, once lost, such buildings cannot easily be replaced. The library building, although tired, has potential to house the myriad of community groups within the village who serve a growing population and is ideally located at the centre of the village.

“The freehold of the library was transferred to Burley Parish Council in April 2017 for the benefit of the village. At the same time, the Queens Hall was leased to the parish council for 50 years. The fate of the library lies in the hands of the BPC and, If the library is sold, the majority of monies must be spent on the Queens Hall, which continues to be owned by Bradford Council. It, therefore, does not make economic sense to sell a property that the village owns to improve an asset that belongs to Bradford Council, the upkeep of which has long been neglected by them.

“It will not be inexpensive to undertake repairs and refurbishment of both buildings, but, in a survey undertaken by SOLS in September 2017, 551 householders (98.5% of those who replied) voted to retain the library and pay more by way of a precept to Bradford Council to enable this to be done.

“As Bradford Council has agreed to fund the library until at least March 2019, why is there such an indecent haste to decide on the future of the library? The proposed housing development to the west of the village, which all three district councillors have opposed and the decision on which has been deferred to a future meeting of the regulatory and appeals committee, if it were to be approved should provide ample money to refurbish both buildings, so why not wait and see?

“The parish council decided to hold a closed meeting to discuss the options on Thursday, February 15, prior to the full council meeting on Thursday, March 8. For the sake of transparency, I hope the whole matter will be openly discussed at the full council meeting prior to the parish council making a final decision, which, I sincerely hope, will be to keep both buildings for the benefit of the village.

“I would urge all concerned, whatever your views, to attend the full parish council meeting on Thursday, March 8, at 7.30pm to hear the parish council’s decision.”