162 replies to this topic

[Matt]

Hi all,

I know there are rumours flying around re. the library and the co-op. I will have an update shortly which I can share and when I do I will post it here. If there is any sort of proposal to be heard there would need to be a full consulation before any decisions are made. I can't say more right now as there really isn't more to say yet.

Regards,

Matt

[Sebastian-Smythe]

Matt, on 05 July 2011 - 10:35 PM, said:

Hi all,

I know there are rumours flying around re. the library and the co-op. I will have an update shortly which I can share and when I do I will post it here. If there is any sort of proposal to be heard there would need to be a full consulation before any decisions are made. I can't say more right now as there really isn't more to say yet.

Regards,

Matt

At least you are keeping folk in Burley updated Matt which is more than can be said for others.

[Polyantha]

Matt, on 05 July 2011 - 10:35 PM, said:

Hi all,

I know there are rumours flying around re. the library and the co-op. I will have an update shortly which I can share and when I do I will post it here. If there is any sort of proposal to be heard there would need to be a full consulation before any decisions are made. I can't say more right now as there really isn't more to say yet.

Regards,

Matt

Dealing in current facts rather than rumours - Enquiries to Bradford Met. reveal the following below frightening response:
For those wishing to forcibly object - we need to mobilise now and react to stop the decline of Grange Road, an impossible traffic situation and the elimination of existing local shops as well as the 'village' environment. Clearly this is possibly the beginning of something awful.

The Council response is set out below.

It is the case that informal discussions have taken place between the Council’s Senior Planning Officer, Martyn Burke, and Mr Tony Dodd of Dodd Associates. Our understanding is that a planning application may be submitted for the change of use of the existing library to new accommodation for the Co-operative shop, with a contemporary extension on a new first floor to accommodate the library. However, no material has been submitted or generated to date in connection with the proposal so there is no specific information that the Local Planning Authority can provide you with. I have no indication of any likely timescale. No formal pre-application submission has been received by the Council and no planning application has been submitted.

Mr Dodd has explained that he proposes to commence a public consultation exercise in connection with the proposal after he has explained the broad concepts of the proposal to the parish Council. It is expected that the Parish Council will be briefed by Mr Dodd at their meeting on 8th August with the consultation exercise coming later. We would expect that any planning application would be submitted following the public consultation period.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

Polyantha, on 17 July 2011 - 11:25 AM, said:

Dealing in current facts rather than rumours - Enquiries to Bradford Met. reveal the following below frightening response:
For those wishing to forcibly object - we need to mobilise now and react to stop the decline of Grange Road, an impossible traffic situation and the elimination of existing local shops as well as the 'village' environment. Clearly this is possibly the beginning of something awful.

The Council response is set out below.

It is the case that informal discussions have taken place between the Council’s Senior Planning Officer, Martyn Burke, and Mr Tony Dodd of Dodd Associates. Our understanding is that a planning application may be submitted for the change of use of the existing library to new accommodation for the Co-operative shop, with a contemporary extension on a new first floor to accommodate the library. However, no material has been submitted or generated to date in connection with the proposal so there is no specific information that the Local Planning Authority can provide you with. I have no indication of any likely timescale. No formal pre-application submission has been received by the Council and no planning application has been submitted.

Mr Dodd has explained that he proposes to commence a public consultation exercise in connection with the proposal after he has explained the broad concepts of the proposal to the parish Council. It is expected that the Parish Council will be briefed by Mr Dodd at their meeting on 8th August with the consultation exercise coming later. We would expect that any planning application would be submitted following the public consultation period.

Nice one!!!

Perhaps when I send a out warning again you'll not treat it so light hearted.

You've had weeks, months nearly, to get an act together. I just hope you've
a solid group over there to take this forward. Note that he's briefing the
Parish Council when most folk are on holiday or heading that way. Typical
developers trick.


(Check catbazza's post of 10th January 2011 - New Co-op ghetto)

Edited by Sebastian-Smythe, 18 July 2011 - 11:56 AM.

[blunt pencil]

RIGHT !! what do we need to do to stop this destruction of the library, the park and the cricket grounds. And what next, will the Grange Park surgery be absorbed into a CO-OP medical branch.

Objections -

1. Parking and van deliveries. Can that road sustain HGV traffic. Certainly, i cant see how a HGV will be able to turn into/ out of Grange road. How do residents feel about never being able to park outside their own houses.

2. Impact on the Park. It will become a tip. Is this park under some form of conservation order i.e. Allowing the CO-OP to leave wheeled cages and packaging outside would be detrimental to the appearance of the park. As the park is used by children as a play area, would the increased traffic flow and parking, increase the risk to child safety.

3. Cricket ground. Would the area be subject to increased vandalism. Would persons be dissuaded from using the cricket grounds.

4. Benefit to the library. Is there any. Will people pop into the library, whilst buying their Grade 2 vegetables. Is this a ploy, to get a new store, then erase the library wing through lack of use. In fact, would putting the library inside the CO-OP turn people away.

5. What happens to the old store ? boarded up (at least there is already ban illegal steel shutter - I SEE ITS STILL THERE). New pavements wrecked by traffic.

STOP THE ROT. CO-OP ROT

[Grumpy]

blunt pencil, on 19 July 2011 - 09:10 AM, said:

RIGHT !! what do we need to do to stop this destruction of the library, the park and the cricket grounds. And what next, will the Grange Park surgery be absorbed into a CO-OP medical branch.

Objections -

1. Parking and van deliveries. Can that road sustain HGV traffic. Certainly, i cant see how a HGV will be able to turn into/ out of Grange road. How do residents feel about never being able to park outside their own houses.

2. Impact on the Park. It will become a tip. Is this park under some form of conservation order i.e. Allowing the CO-OP to leave wheeled cages and packaging outside would be detrimental to the appearance of the park. As the park is used by children as a play area, would the increased traffic flow and parking, increase the risk to child safety.

3. Cricket ground. Would the area be subject to increased vandalism. Would persons be dissuaded from using the cricket grounds.

4. Benefit to the library. Is there any. Will people pop into the library, whilst buying their Grade 2 vegetables. Is this a ploy, to get a new store, then erase the library wing through lack of use. In fact, would putting the library inside the CO-OP turn people away.

5. What happens to the old store ? boarded up (at least there is already ban illegal steel shutter - I SEE ITS STILL THERE). New pavements wrecked by traffic.

STOP THE ROT. CO-OP ROT

Absolutely spot on.
Whilst we dont know what council officials/councillors have actually said to Mr Dodd, if they had been doing their job properly they would have been so discouraging he would have given up by now.
I wonder if the next move is to tell us that if we dont accept the development then they cant afford to keep the library.

[catbazza]

Grumpy, on 19 July 2011 - 01:39 PM, said:

Absolutely spot on.
Whilst we dont know what council officials/councillors have actually said to Mr Dodd, if they had been doing their job properly they would have been so discouraging he would have given up by now.
I wonder if the next move is to tell us that if we dont accept the development then they cant afford to keep the library.

Odds on the latter.

[blunt pencil]

And if we were to say "OK, sacrifice the library" how would they next try and convince people that a new CO-OP and boarded up "old CO-OP" is better for Burley.

The answer is simple - Stay at the old CO-OP and just clean it up

[Sebastian-Smythe]

blunt pencil, on 19 July 2011 - 06:43 PM, said:

And if we were to say "OK, sacrifice the library" how would they next try and convince people that a new CO-OP and boarded up "old CO-OP" is better for Burley.

The answer is simple - Stay at the old CO-OP and just clean it up

Thank heaven it's got through. Was begining to think I'd lit the wrong touch paper.
Two things - This guy is talking about the library being upstairs. Am I right? If so
where is the lift going to go for the disabled etc?

There was talk of a new Co-op on your Main Street. Near a disused garage or something.
Again access comes to mind. Don't forget these alternatives while you're get the
village alerted.

I suggest you contact your Local History group. If memory serves me right they had a
room at your library or something similar. Now you have the Net - use it.


Get the Media involved. Fresh appear to be the best round here, but don't forget the
Beeb...............

[Polyantha]

Good points everyone, are any of you up for becoming actively involved and join all the people opposing it? The more people the better, to stop the co op taking over the library.

[PhilD]

Burley is a small village - all the better for it - so doesn't need / have room for a much bigger store than the existing Coop

It was scheduled for an upgrade over a year ago ( I asked why the new tills had the customer facing screens pointing the wrong way and was told that when the counter was moved to the new position it would all be right)

pressure needs to be exerted on them (presumably by giving no encouragement at all about alternative sites) to crack on with the upgrade and we can all move on.

I'm not a lawyer so have no idea about how this would all stick together legally, but for starters, if the steel shutters are indeed illegal then why not start with an enforcement order to get them removed ?

[ex-user]

An epic thread!

A retired goat herder claiming he told us so months ago (you didn't) and a local councilor who didn't feel that local residents and tax payers were ready to be privy to the truth about a sensitive commercial matter; disgusting.

Well if this idea is to go ahead my preference would for a Morrisons not the Co Op underpinning the library and I'd like a local councilor who is open, honest and truthful to replace the current selection.

[blunt pencil]

Come on guys - the important thing here is to stick together. What do we want to achieve:

1. Block any attempt to redevelop the library as some form of mini-market

2. Get the current CO-OP to tidy itself up and provide a decent shopping atmosphere
(i) deliver on upgrade promises made over a year ago to refit the store
(ii) remove the steel shutter which I understand is illegal
(iii) park its HGV's where they do not obstruct pavement ramp access, or block traffic
(iv) not leave wheeled cages and other rubbish outside the store like some form of tipping ground



The similarities to Ilkley TESCO are worrying. That store deliberately ran its current stock and building down, to use as an agrguement for redevelopment.

WE need all thread contributers, members of the council, etc. to help with this. Make the CO-OP accountable.

[Polyantha]

blunt pencil, on 20 July 2011 - 11:54 AM, said:

Come on guys - the important thing here is to stick together. What do we want to achieve:

1. Block any attempt to redevelop the library as some form of mini-market

2. Get the current CO-OP to tidy itself up and provide a decent shopping atmosphere
(i) deliver on upgrade promises made over a year ago to refit the store
(ii) remove the steel shutter which I understand is illegal
(iii) park its HGV's where they do not obstruct pavement ramp access, or block traffic
(iv) not leave wheeled cages and other rubbish outside the store like some form of tipping ground



The similarities to Ilkley TESCO are worrying. That store deliberately ran its current stock and building down, to use as an agrguement for redevelopment.

WE need all thread contributers, members of the council, etc. to help with this. Make the CO-OP accountable.

Raise your concerns at this early stage to members of Burley Parish Council, address letters to The Clerk, Burley Parish Council, Queens Hall, Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale, or email {letters are better}, parishclerk@burleyinwharfedale.org

May be wise to check your letters have been recieved, and noted.

Objections need to be objective, ie. affect on local shops, traffic, pollution, noise, etc.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

greenhowleadman, on 19 July 2011 - 08:23 PM, said:

An epic thread!

A retired goat herder claiming he told us so months ago (you didn't) and a local councilor who didn't feel that local residents and tax payers were ready to be privy to the truth about a sensitive commercial matter; disgusting.

Well if this idea is to go ahead my preference would for a Morrisons not the Co Op underpinning the library and I'd like a local councilor who is open, honest and truthful to replace the current selection.

Posted 16 October 2010 - 02:08 PM

I've hinted in other topics our small libraries are not as safe as folk think.

Information has come my way to the effect if you don't start squawking, raising very important questions and the like with Local and Distric Councillors, Seb could well be saying in the not too distant future, "I told you so."

Large and small stores could very easely become mini libraries.

What really bothers me are the collections of local history and ancient volumes which could be lost. Don't forget what happened to them when Keighley library was closed for refurbishment.

You have been warned!

[Sebastian-Smythe]

Sebastian-Smythe, on 21 July 2011 - 02:11 AM, said:

Posted 16 October 2010 - 02:08 PM

I've hinted in other topics our small libraries are not as safe as folk think.

Information has come my way to the effect if you don't start squawking, raising very important questions and the like with Local and Distric Councillors, Seb could well be saying in the not too distant future, "I told you so."

Large and small stores could very easely become mini libraries.

What really bothers me are the collections of local history and ancient volumes which could be lost. Don't forget what happened to them when Keighley library was closed for refurbishment.

You have been warned!

These could come in handy if only to give you an idea what the rest of the country are doing.

My link

My link


My link

[villiageyouth]

I know that the library is something that is used by a few members of the village, even me and my friends sometimes go in there when the weather is bad but the fact is that its not used by a large group of people if the council are planing on letting the co-op do this they most likely think that no one really goes in there and feel its a waste of money? start a petition to save the library get as many people as possible to sign it and show that its wanted. i for one would sign it and i am sure my friends would do to.

[Sebastian-Smythe]

villiageyouth, on 21 July 2011 - 10:12 AM, said:

I know that the library is something that is used by a few members of the village, even me and my friends sometimes go in there when the weather is bad but the fact is that its not used by a large group of people if the council are planing on letting the co-op do this they most likely think that no one really goes in there and feel its a waste of money? start a petition to save the library get as many people as possible to sign it and show that its wanted. i for one would sign it and i am sure my friends would do to.

There you are. The young folk of your village are willing to sign a petition. You have the contacts etc., let's not waste time.
I will support you from my end as I'm supporting other groups around the country.

While some of you are getting a petition together others need to be photographing the area with and without vehicles.

[Raz]

Do none of you guys think that this could be a good idea? You all complain about stock blocking isles and trolleys blocking access but if the Co-Op do stay in their current location even if they have a re-fit this would still happen as the store is not big enough for a stock warehouse, therefore stock has to be hand carried downstairs. This would apply to any company in this building not just the co-op. Also with regards to trollies being left outside if at a new location, trollies would be taken straight from the wagon into the warehouse so customers dot even see them. The store would also have proper disabled access which I believe most stores should have. There would possibly be more tills/store staff so you wouldn't be queuing like you all grumble about. With regards to wagons/parking, look at the size of the current road the Co-Op are on and Grange road, the library has a car park, it may be small but at least it would get used, and the wagons that currently deliver to both Co-Op and costcutter both go down here after delivering so what difference does it make? At the end of the day I think it is a brilliant idea and would create a warmer, friendlier shopping environment with greater choice of food. But I guess it's me against te lot of you guys.

Not forgetting the most crucial part of the argument, we would get to keep our village library!

[blunt pencil]

The voice of the CO-OP

as I previously said, you discuss all the advantages to the CO-OP - but not for the advantage to the library (as I thought thats what this proposal was intended for).


The CO-OP fails to keep its wheeled cages and rubbish out of site now, so why should that change.

The current store could be modified with a full disabled acces if it wanted to. The butcher on main street managed it.

More tills and more staff. - The current store has three tills (badly positioned) and never fully used. Every time I go in there, there is ample staff. Its just they are not deployed properly causing a queue.

Greater choice of food - The current store sells Grade 2 vegetables. Why would a new store mean you would "up the quality". Surely the range of goods and quality can be made available now

Stock warehouse - well you could utilise all of the upstairs, however part of it is rented for accomodation to bring in extra £££ (and aparently the reason for turning the air con off). I did not realise you had to walk down stairs with stock. I dont think thats very safe. Make a complaint to your LA Inspector. The solution is to install a goods lift.

Store layout - It should be on a level floor, with NEW racking, ergonomically laid out.


The fact is, the current store has more than adequate floor space. It needs investment to make the store a friendly place to shop.

I am having a go at the CO-OP and not the staff. I think its awful that the CO-OP as an employer, has so little regard for its staff and customers.

And why should Burley see the decline of its main shopping high street, its library, its park - as part of some corrupt proposal by CO-OP. If the CO-OP does not want to engage with Burley, it should sell up and let another retailer have a go.

Edited by blunt pencil, 21 July 2011 - 12:08 PM.