HYDE LIBRARY - THE GREAT SELL-OFF

Whilst on the surface is seems nice of our council chiefs to announce plans for a significant investment in Hyde Town Hall, however, when one looks beneath the surface, all is not as it may seem; - apparently, they tell us, “it’s to bring the ‘heartbeat of the community’ back to life.” - which I suppose is a significant step forward, as previously, they have refused to admit, that under their administration, the town is dying!

They tell us that much of the work due to be carried out in the Grade-II listed building is being prepared for more council services moving in as work to redevelop Ashton Town Hall and Ashton town centre gets underway.

In fact, essential works, such as repairs to the lift and central heating system, have already been carried out and if they are to make this alleged investment work, it is vital that the roof repairs; that have been left unattended for years (see water damage on second floor landing) for lack of funds, now be carried out

.

So, where is all the money coming from to pay for this alleged ‘investment’? After all, they tell us, “Sacrifices have to be made if we are to maintain the standards that we the council have become accustomed essential services!”

Well, helping to pay for much of this council largess sees our iconic town library building being

put up for sale, with all the library's contents moving from its home in Union Street into the Town Hall!

The sale of Hyde’s iconic library will be a symbolic moment for the people of Hyde - as it will complete Tameside Council’s great sell off of our community facilities.

It was reported that Cllr Peter Robinson said it was ‘just another piece of the jigsaw’ aimed at breathing new life into the centre of Hyde, following major work on the market and the demolition of the multi-storey car park.

He said: “Hyde Town Hall is more or less empty at the moment, apart from the MP’s office and we want to bring life back into it.

Now, taking the councillor at his word, let’s follow his logic which says, that by moving more services from Ashton’s Civic Centre to both Hyde and Dukinfield Town Halls, is in order ‘to bring life back into the town’ presumably then, it must follow that when Ashton have built their ‘vision’ (which will take around three and a half years to complete) Hyde Town Hall will once again, face the prospect of having ‘all the life taken out of it’ when it reverts back to a Town Hall, albeit this time with a library tucked inside it!

Cllr Robinson might well see this proposal as a mere jigsaw, but when there are pieces missing from a jigsaw, you can never successfully the complete picture. Because the ‘piece’ we will have lost, through this fire sale is a  the use of another iconic building and a much cherished community asset. 

We won’t see a penny of the sale either! Contrary to what he Council Leader claims, he doesn’t have a feeling for our history. Once again our town is being decimated and treated purely as a cash cow to help produce a megalomaniacal 'vision' for Ashton!

What these council chiefs always avoid telling us is the whole story.

Any money emanating from the sale of our much loved library will be swallowed up by the hidden costs of moving the councils administrative services; not once, but twice!

Can you imagine moving hundreds of thousands of archived files, computer IT systems for countless departments, the logistics involved to maintain continuity, the internal communication system, all the hardware, the office furniture, the personnel and seamlessly continuing with all the councils mandatory services?

Then there’s the hidden cost of physically moving premises. Things like Insurance, Storage and  amending legal contracts.

I also don’t believe for one moment that they will be taking all the existing office carpets, filing cabinets, desks chairs, pictures and potted plants; oh, no, these will all be new, then of course it will all have to be done again, when their new ‘shared civic building’ is completed

.

The cost to refurbish an entire council administrative operation will run into millions! - Then after approximately three and a half years, they'll all move back again. (...perhaps the BBC should make a series out of that scenario - Call the Council -The Soap Opera - A documentary series following the country's heroic council officers as they carry the contents of their desks in re-cycled cardboard boxes from one Town Hall to another and then back again!)

Another question that springs to mind is the terms of contract with facilities management company, Carillion. For instance, have ‘the council’ had to enter into a favourable office lease to rent back their own ‘Town Halls’? After all, extra staffing will be needed to supply security to two fully occupied civic buildings plus there will be an obvious drop in hospitality revenue from groups, societies and wedding planners who would have booked a variety of events, but will be denied due to the three plus years of suspended use.

In years gone by, should such a proposal be announced by the council, the local papers would make it their duty to fully investigate the proposed scheme; announce the terms of such a sale and explain how the community would benefit; inform of any restrictive planning restrictions for any change of use and using reader support,if deemed necessary organise and spearhead a massive protest against such a profligate waste.

Alas, today it would seem its only independent bloggers that can now hope to fully inform the people - because no councillor will risk their place at the trough by disagreeing with 'the cabinet'

For your information, there is a petition of protest being compiled in certain shops in Hyde. I respectfully suggest you seek them out and ask those struggling shopkeepers for their views on ' the council's plans to bring the ‘heartbeat of the community’ back to life'!