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Wings
Bus and library changes
Poor usage is behind Wingerworth losing an evening bus and the same reason could force a change to its library service, which may
be run by volunteers. John Winter reports
B US company TM Travel has ended the evening 55A evening service to Chesterfield because cash-strapped Derbyshire
County Council withdrew its funding.
Coun Barry Lewis, Leader of the local authority, told Wingerworth
Parish Council they had tried to “tailor” the proposed cuts in bus services to those used by fewest passengers “where the subsidy per head is ridiculous.”
The council learned that several shift workers had made it known that they would face difficult journeys home without an evening bus, and it would also affect people travelling back to Chesterfield late afternoon by train who then used the bus back to the village, and those who used it for social events.
David Boden, general manager of TM Travel, said: “Service 55A is a tendered service which we operate on behalf of Derbyshire County Council. The decision has been taken by them to end the service because of the very low passenger numbers being carried.
“At TM, we hate to lose any services but for us to operate commercially we have to have a guarantee of passenger numbers. Sadly, these are not good enough for us to take a commercial risk.”
With regard to the library service, which is undergoing a public consultation exercise, and where changes would not be implemented until 2019, parish council chair, Coun Diana Ruff, said: “The council has always held our library as a great asset to Wingerworth. Until we know all the facts from the consultation period, we cannot make any definite plans.
“I am aiming to set up a small working group to scope out all the aspects of options for keeping the library going.
“Personally, I think its a great asset. We don’t get a great deal of rent for use of the Parish Hall, but I think it would be a great loss if we don’t have it.
“I am aware that the footfall has dropped off which may be something to do with the opening hours being a bit strange.”
She added that there were still ways to maintain a library, including volunteers or paid staff working for fewer hours.
“The new format for running the libraries is still to be determined but we have had several conversations with the department and have made our position clear. Until the full consultation is over l don't think anyone should speculate,” she said.
A report stated: “While the important role of the library service has been recognised in the Council Plan, it does not make the service immune from the many challenges facing the council.”
On 20th July, 2017, Cabinet approved a reduction to the library service budget up to 2021 of £1.6 million.
The council decided to look at community managed libraries, as introduced in a number of other local authority areas. Wingerworth is one of 20 libraries being considered for community management.
In Wingerworth there were 19,822 library issues and renewals in 2016/17, from 12,509 library visits, but there are only 616 active members out of a catchment of 3,745 homes (2015 figures).
The cost of running the service in 2016/17 was £3,270, and under potential grant funding for community managed libraries, in the first year Wingerworth would receive £3,600, second year £2,700, fourth year £1,400.
The proposed opening hours would stay at 16-and-a-half per week. The county council say the library won’t be closed, and residents are invited to a focus group meeting for more details on Tuesday, July 3rd, at 6pm.
Here’s FATHER’S DAY present a great for dad!
Buy him a subscription to the award-winning Sheffield nostalgia periodical, MY KIND OF TOWN
For only £22, we will post the next four issues to any UK address as soon as they are published. You can arrange this by calling the publishers’ office on 01246 416027.
Issue 29 is to be published on June 11th and will be available locally from Waterstone’s, Vicar Lane, Chesterfield.
It’s Father’s Day on Sunday, June 17th
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