Liden Library closure possible after false announcement it has shut

A post was made on the Liden Library and Community Hub Facebook page by parish councillor Mike Davies on January 18, informing residents that the facility had abruptly closed.

But this post was later removed from the page and the chair of Swindon Community Library Trust, David Bell, has subsequently labelled it as "misinformation” stating that he was in the library that morning.

READ MORE: Closure concerns for Liden Library after Covingham's shut - but parish and trust insist its future is secure

These comments came after a Nythe, Eldene and Liden Parish Council meeting took place on Tuesday where one of the topics tabled for discussion was the library trust’s request for further funding from the parish council to keep the library going.

It is understood that parish councillors decided to meet again with trustees once they had got a business plan together and then they would decide on future funding. 

The Facebook post was made the following morning, which Mr Davies, who had resigned as a library trustee on Monday, said was factual given what had transpired in the meeting and what he had been told.

He said: "Liden Library is very dear to me. I have been using it for the last 15 years and whiled away many a happy hour there with my children. I served on the working group and was keen to make a success of it as a trustee. 

“It is terrible that cuts to public services due to austerity mean libraries across the town are shutting unless they are able to be run by fabulous groups of volunteers, or be funded by successful parish councils. 

"There is even a new one opening across the road in Badbury Park, so it is very sad that Liden may be closing, even temporarily.”

Nythe, Eldene and Liden Parish councillor Mike Davies, who says he esigned from the library trust because of its impending closure (Image: Mike Davies)

Parish councillor Bazil Solomon accused Mr Davies of “hacking” the Facebook page to post the announcement.

He said: "We did have a breach and hacking on our Liden Library and Community Hub Facebook page earlier today by a non-Trustee and the individual was asked to delete that post saying the library was shut. I have reported the parish councillor to Standards."

But Mr Davies denies this, explaining that he was an admin of the page when he made the post, and then removed himself afterwards.

Mr Solomon went on to confirm that the future of the library was in jeopardy.

He said: “The last, I knew we are working on saving Liden Library and Community Hub due to current costs of living pressures and are having meetings and putting all the cards on the table."

The latest accounts for The Liden Library & Community Hub trust, from the year ending March 31, 2022, show a total income of £22,805 and a total expenditure of £22,349.

Although this income relies heavily on an £18,000 payment from the parish council and almost £5,000 in rent from the Swindon 105.5 radio station, which is based in the same building. 

READ MORE: Council demand for £1,000 makes things harder for community radio station

The library was open on Friday morning, although the librarian there said she was only temporary and was being paid by Swindon Borough Council.

But what of the library's future? Mr Bell said its closure is a possibility, but the trust hopes to have drawn up a viable business plan within the next few weeks. 

"Currently we rely heavily on the parish council for funding, and we can't keep doing that," he said.

"At the moment we're maintaining the service here and we'd like to continue that, but obviously this will be impaired if the finances don't work in our favour. We need to produce a business plan that's credible."