Anger at writer exhibit while library faces axe (From This is Hampshire)
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Anger at writer exhibit while library faces axe
9:30am Sunday 21st February 2010 in News
Anger at writer exhibit while library faces axe
CAMPAIGNERS have criticised Southampton culture chiefs for welcoming an exhibition of pictures of inspirational writers while shutting a city library.
Southampton is to host the touring display featuring a world-famous portrait of William Shakespeare never before seen outside London.
The Chandos portrait, named after a previous owner, is usually housed in the National Portrait Gallery and is considered to be the only portrait of Shakespeare painted from life.
But the announcement of the exhibition, titled Writers of Influence: Shakespeare to JK Rowling, comes as Tory councillors voted to shut a library on the Millbrook estate.
Labour libraries spokesman Councillor Derek Burke said: “It just shows they are not thinking straight. It’s sound a great exhibition but then they’re going to close a library where people have got a chance to learn about and read the works of these writers.
Once it’s gone it’s very difficult to get them back.”
Lib Dem campaigner David Callaghan added: “It is really ironic that this exhibition is coming to the city at a time when Millbrook Library is set to close.
“It shows once again how short-sighted the Conservatives are. How will closing a library help the education of children in Southampton?”
Tory cabinet member for culture John Hannides said: “Southampton City Council is delighted that the ‘Chandos’ portrait of William Shakespeare is coming to the City’s Art Gallery.
"This is an extraordinary painting and we hope that it encourages many more visitors to Southampton’s Art Gallery and enjoy not only this work but the many impressive artworks we have on display."
He said the library had to be demolished to make way for the redevelopment of the Cumbrian Way shopping parade.
A mobile library would be brought in while ten maisonettes, ten shops, and offices are knocked down to make way for 56 houses and flats.
He said a survey found a library was not a high priority for Millbrook residents but pledged to consult them again about putting a library in one of four new shop units.
The painting will be included in an exhibition of 61 writers’ portraits throughout the ages.
The exhibition will feature portraits of Geoffrey Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Enid Blyton, Lewis Carroll, Agatha Christie, John Lennon, JK Rowling and David Bowie.
It opens at Southampton City Art Gallery on July 23.
Comments(19)
Uncle Chuffnuts
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9:42am Sun 21 Feb 10
southy
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10:19am Sun 21 Feb 10
Uncle Chuffnuts wrote:lol
I wonder whose portraits of the great inspirational writers of the present day will hang on those walls in 50 years time? The autobiographical achievements of Katie Price, Ant and Dec, Posh and Becks, Alan Titchmarsh?
“It shows once again how short-sighted the Conservatives are. How will closing a library help the education of children in Southampton?”
the tory's all ways have been short sighted, they work on the short term ( the quick buck ). they are unable to see into the future, and unable to do some thing for the long term. thats why this country in such a mess.
Lone Ranger
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10:39am Sun 21 Feb 10
Condor Man
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12:01pm Sun 21 Feb 10
My View from the Hill
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12:11pm Sun 21 Feb 10
The plan of the council is, when the redevelopment of the Hinkler Parade takes place the library will shut, it will open again when the community centre is built on the site, in the community centre you will have the local housing office, health projects offices and library, the library will be run by volunteer's.
goard
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1:42pm Sun 21 Feb 10
goard
southy
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2:09pm Sun 21 Feb 10
there will not be additional shops in cumbrian way there going to be less 10 shopping units at the moment they first said 5 and now 4 its going down.
they should just leave it alone has it is all 10 shops are in use. the last vacant shop in redbridge has just been taken up and you are talking about the largest ward in southampton. it has 6 shopping centres left out of 9 that use to be here.
if they want to build more houses how about if they bought up a few houses in bittern park and build there. some of those homes in this area take up the space of 4 homes.
Iw61
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2:19pm Sun 21 Feb 10
Condor Man wrote:Bitterne Park has a library dimwit!!
Given that there are big libraries in Lordshill AND Shirley I can't see the fuss myself. Some areas, like Bitterne Park (where people pay higher council tax) have no such facilities. If you look at the service spread there is too much of a Test bias. Given that there will be additional shop units in the new Cumbrian Way development perhaps the Lib Dem candidate will chip in and pay the £10k or so a year it will cost to rent the unit?
southy
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4:09pm Sun 21 Feb 10
Iw61 wrote:iw6 i coming to the idea we are dealing with young adults, they seem to have not a clue what is really going on, and just going on the belief what there parents have brainwashed into them. you know the sort of idea like what bush said greed is good when its not its only good for the wealthy and they need there sheep to belive in it, and is the worse thing for ordinary people.
Condor Man wrote:Bitterne Park has a library dimwit!!
Given that there are big libraries in Lordshill AND Shirley I can't see the fuss myself. Some areas, like Bitterne Park (where people pay higher council tax) have no such facilities. If you look at the service spread there is too much of a Test bias. Given that there will be additional shop units in the new Cumbrian Way development perhaps the Lib Dem candidate will chip in and pay the £10k or so a year it will cost to rent the unit?
Get it right
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4:28pm Sun 21 Feb 10
Brite Spark wrote:Perhaps you should have spent more time in the library while you had it - it should be "our" library...
"hands of are libary!"
Condor Man
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4:30pm Sun 21 Feb 10
Iw61 wrote:What? the one on Bitterne Road near the station? That's technically in Bitterne Manor.
Condor Man wrote: Given that there are big libraries in Lordshill AND Shirley I can't see the fuss myself. Some areas, like Bitterne Park (where people pay higher council tax) have no such facilities. If you look at the service spread there is too much of a Test bias. Given that there will be additional shop units in the new Cumbrian Way development perhaps the Lib Dem candidate will chip in and pay the £10k or so a year it will cost to rent the unit?Bitterne Park has a library dimwit!!
Iw61
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5:41pm Sun 21 Feb 10
Condor Man wrote:Technically its probably on the edge of both areas. Cobbett Road counts as BP in my view.
Iw61 wrote:What? the one on Bitterne Road near the station? That's technically in Bitterne Manor.
Condor Man wrote: Given that there are big libraries in Lordshill AND Shirley I can't see the fuss myself. Some areas, like Bitterne Park (where people pay higher council tax) have no such facilities. If you look at the service spread there is too much of a Test bias. Given that there will be additional shop units in the new Cumbrian Way development perhaps the Lib Dem candidate will chip in and pay the £10k or so a year it will cost to rent the unit?Bitterne Park has a library dimwit!!
Its the SO18 postcode which is for Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Chartwell Green, Townhill Park, Southampton Airport.
its the Library Bitterne Park residents are likely to use.
Condor Man
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7:59pm Sun 21 Feb 10
Iw61 wrote:and if you live in Townhill it's no further to travel to either that library or the one in Portswood than it would be for any resident of Millbrook to go to Lordshill or Shirley.
Condor Man wrote:Technically its probably on the edge of both areas. Cobbett Road counts as BP in my view. Its the SO18 postcode which is for Bitterne, Bitterne Park, Chartwell Green, Townhill Park, Southampton Airport. its the Library Bitterne Park residents are likely to use.Iw61 wrote:What? the one on Bitterne Road near the station? That's technically in Bitterne Manor.Condor Man wrote: Given that there are big libraries in Lordshill AND Shirley I can't see the fuss myself. Some areas, like Bitterne Park (where people pay higher council tax) have no such facilities. If you look at the service spread there is too much of a Test bias. Given that there will be additional shop units in the new Cumbrian Way development perhaps the Lib Dem candidate will chip in and pay the £10k or so a year it will cost to rent the unit?Bitterne Park has a library dimwit!!
Iw61
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8:40pm Sun 21 Feb 10
Ask BP residents. If they are users they will say its in Cobbett Road.
Condor Man
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9:38pm Sun 21 Feb 10
This Mr Callaghan seems to be capitalising on one issue, I imagine he'll be on a par with his namesake if ever elected.
Brite Spark
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6:38am Mon 22 Feb 10
Get it right wrote:"There's always one who nibbles! ... ... ... ..."
Brite Spark wrote:Perhaps you should have spent more time in the library while you had it - it should be "our" library...
"hands of are libary!"
goard
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11:38am Mon 22 Feb 10
goard
thebloke
says...
9:33pm Mon 22 Feb 10
Every library costs less than one bean counting executive that the SCC employ. Everytime a library is under threat sack one and keep the books.
By definition they presume that the people in bitterne who use libraries do not work and can wait for a library like you can for a bus.
This Tory cabinet is so far adrift from popular support as to be no more use to Southampton than a Titanic museum.
They must be held to account by the councillors we voted in and removed of the ability to make decisions against the wishes of the people of Southampton.
Brite Spark says...
9:35am Sun 21 Feb 10