Campaigners write a new chapter for Mick (From Bucks Free Press)

Campaigners write a new chapter for Mick

9:11am Friday 20th January 2006 in

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CHAMPAGNE corks popped in Micklefield on Saturday after the under-threat library was thrown a lifeline by council bosses.

Campaigners, gathered outside the library in Micklefield Road, raised a toast at the news that Bucks County Council had handed them a five-month reprieve, giving the Friends of Micklefield Library a chance to put together a lottery bid to save it.

David Cannings, 46, chairman of the group, said it would not have been possible without the support of Midweek's Don't Take The Mick campaign.

He said: "Thanks to everyone at Midweek who has supported us. This was the best news and has given us a real chance."

For three months people in Micklefield have fought council proposals to close the library, which they say is a key part of their community.

Mum-of-three Ordaine Brown, 36, of Micklefield Road, said her children need the library. She said: "I am here for them because they use it all the time for homework. Without it we would have to go into Wycombe."

As soon as proposals to close the library were revealed last October, Cllr Julia Wassell, county councillor for Micklefield, started a campaign to save the library.

She said: "Midweek has been behind us the whole time and given us a boost anytime we were lagging."

Concerned residents and book lovers have taken to the streets every week to get people in the area to add their support to the campaign.

Cllr Wassell has put together a business plan that would see the library become a wider community facility.

The group will be putting in a lottery bid in June to fund the project.

Cllr Wassell added: "We are all committed to saving it."

So, what's the rescue plan?

MICKLEFIELD Library campaigners want to see the building turned into a "beacon of pride" for the whole community.

Last month the Micklefield Action Group presented Bucks County Council with a detailed business plan containing proposals to rejuvenate the library with the help of lottery money.

The plan, called A New Chapter For Micklefield Library, was drawn up by Cllr Julia Wassell and David Cannings, chairman of the action group.

The library currently costs the council £27,472-a-year to run. Cllr Julia Wassell is now preparing a bid for £500,000 in National Lottery grant money from the new Community Libraries Fund to pay for the changes.

Mr Cannings, a teacher from Micklefield Road, stressed the plan puts emphasis on children and families.

He said: "We want to make this something for the whole community, not just somewhere to hire books and DVDs.

"We need everybody to be behind this if we are to be successful. We especially need this to appeal to children, who need libraries for school."

The building could be turned into a two-storey complex housing a fully resourced library, a computer suite and public meeting rooms. The group hope to get organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau to use the building.

The document lists Micklefield as one of the most deprived areas in Bucks, with adult learning, children's education and health promotion all priorities the action group could address.

Cllr Margaret Draper, district councillor for Micklefield, said: "People talk about Micklefield as being a focus area and it seems counter-productive to talk about closing one of our main facilities."