Fury over library relocation plan

BALBRIGGAN residents are furious over Fingal County Council’s plans to move their local library to a new location in the town.

Over 300 people attended a public meeting in the Milestone Pub last Wednesday night (January 15) to vent their anger.

However, the council said the relocation from the current premises in the town hall, George’s Square, to Gallen’s Mill in Mill Street would enable it to provide a bigger public library and a museum.

The council intends to set up a new INTREO resource in the town hall but not in the space that currently houses the library.

Balbriggan Town Councillor Grainne Maguire (Ind) was among those who attended the public meeting.

“The 300 plus who attended were all very angry and passionate about the library and their town hall,

? Cllr Maguire told Northside People.

“There was a great positive energy in the room and plenty of discussion over the state of the whole town in general and the fact that it has been overlooked in certain areas.

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Cllr Maguire said she was totally opposed to the plans and was not surprised at the turnout.

“While the idea of a state-of-the-art library and museum is great, the library we have is one of the best is Fingal and was only redeveloped some years ago,

? she stated.

“The town of Balbriggan with its great historical background has always deserved a museum but we should not have to sacrifice the town hall and library building just to get one.

“There is plenty of vacant buildings in and around Balbriggan and it is now up to the Office of Public Works (OPW) and the Department of Social Protection to look at their options and locate somewhere else as the library and town hall building is staying put. Everyone is prepared to stand up and fight for this.

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Acting Fingal County Manager, Peter Caulfield, acknowledged the public interest in the council’s plans to expand and relocate the library services.

Mr Caulfield confirmed that the council has been in discussions with the OPW to facilitate the setting up of a new resource for jobseekers and employers under the INTREO programme launched in 2012.

He said this proposal presents the council with an opportunity to give a new lease of life to the historic Gallen’s Mill, located in the centre of the town, providing an expanded library, a museum and new community facilities.

“In 2013 the Office of Public Works outlined their plans to locate offices across the country as part of the roll out of the INTREO Programme which aims to help the long term unemployed,

? Mr Caulfield told Northside People.

“Balbriggan and Swords were identified as locations to provide this service. The current proposal gives us a renewed opportunity to provide a bigger public library along with a museum in the Gallen’s Mill building.

“The mill building would also provide arts and community spaces and further the regeneration of the Mill Street area in line with the aims of the Balbriggan Public Realm Plan.

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Mr Caulfield added:

“Contrary to some recent reports I can reassure people locally that the original Carnegie building, which houses part of the current library, will continue to be available as community space and meeting rooms for the people of Balbriggan.

“The new INTREO office will be located in other areas of the building.

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Malachy Quinn, a Sinn Fein candidate in the Balbriggan ward for the local elections, said he was totally opposed to the proposal.

“We are entitled to a full library service from within our own local community,

? Mr Quinn told Northside People.

“Recently, I have worked closely with others on the Save Our Library campaign in Balbriggan, and we were successful in the rollback to the then proposed cuts to the opening hours in Balbriggan and Skerries libraries.

“I am certain that united together in common purpose we can defeat this unnecessary relocation.

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Local resident Barbara McMahon said if the library is relocated it would take the heart out of the community.

“Even if the facilities at a new premises were similar to what we already have, it still wouldn’t be good enough,

? she said.

“There are a lot of empty units in Balbriggan that could house a social welfare office.

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Anthony Murphy, President of Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, said:

“A library has existed on this site, serving the people of Balbriggan since being established by the Carnegie Trust in 1905.

“It is clear that the proposed move must be stopped and I will do everything in my power to ensure that it does not happen.

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