With good news for Pelsall residents that the senior councillor Garry Perry has declared their Library is safe it is clear that the Tories in charge of the Town know exactly which ones will be cut. It is a disgrace for news to leak out like that as many of us are passionate about libraries and especially in Pheasey is a vital resource that can not be lost.

Given the news Pelsall is safe the remaining libraries under threat are

Central
Aldridge
Bloxwich
Brownhills
Darlaston
Willenhall
Beechdale
Blakenall
Mobile
New Invention
Pheasey
Pleck
Rushall
South Walsall
Streetly
Walsall Wood

We know six will be going unless taken over in some charity/third way and it is safe to assume that some of these are safe

Central
Aldridge
Darlaston
Bloxwich
Pelsall
Brownhills
Willenhall

So if we look at what is left what is the measurement being used, footfall, cost, amount of books borrowed ?

The statistics are to be found here on Page 42.

For 2009-10 with just 27502 visits (remember reduced hours) only Rushall (24267), Beechdale (26124) South Walsall (16991) and Walsall Wood (19820) are lower.

For books borrowed Pheasey with 40745 does very well with Beechdale, Blakenhall, New Invention, Pleack, Walsall, South Walsall & Walsall Wood all lower.

For costs Pheasey at £81,011 is average with New Invention the cheapest and Blakenhall the highest of those not being cut.

So it is a mixed picture for Pheasey. With 6 out of the 16 ‘safe’ and including the mobile service then 6 out of 10 to go, so with no criteria published on how they will make the decision (apart from statutory obligations), just how wrong was it for Coun Perry to say what he did.

Every Pheasey resident should contact one of the local councillors to petition for not JUST Pheasey library’s survival but every single one of them.

For example with Aldridge Library future assurred, then how can bith Streetly and Pheasey both retain Libraries this side of Aldridge, impossible.

Because otherwise the chances our we will lose it and the damage in loss of rent to the Collingwood Centre could be serious as well.