Campaigners plead with councillors to keep vital hub open

Angry Garnock Valley campaigners say the closure of Beith Library would be the final straw for a town which is a “wreck of broken down buildings which are left to rot”.

The library is one of six at risk in the community owing to proposals for cuts in the current budget, with 1,200 people signing a petition, both online and in Bee Gee’s newsagents.

The petition reads: “The people of Beith rely on the various services the library provides for them for all ages in the community. Please can we ask you to pass on this petition to the relevant parties before the February budget meeting. Please do not close this library as it has been at the heart of the community for many years and our town cannot have the eyesore of another empty building.”

Petition spokesperson Fiona Dickie told the Audit and Scrutiny committee: “Beith Library meets all the needs of the townspeople. The building is in the middle of the town within easy walking distance from various points in Beith.

“Three levels are accessed with a lift and stairs. There is excellent off-street access to the building with a wide-opening automatic door which is excellent for drop-off by taxi or car. The building is in good shape with good heating and lighting and disabled-friendly with mums with babies toilets and a carpet from just pre-covid.

“This is the only building of its kind in Beith which easy access for the whole of the community.

“The town of Beith can’t afford another building to close and subsequently fall into a terrible trade of disrepair.

“The town is already a wreck of unsightly broken down buildings just left to rot. Loss of the library would have a financial impact on the few remaining local businesses in the main street as they share the same footfall of people going about their daily business.

“There is a need for the library for current residents and new residents moving into the town coming in There is poor transport and a practically non-existent taxi service.

“My 92-year-old neighbour sees the library as a lifeline as he can browse books and meet the many friends he is in touch with.

“Aside from books the library also offers free computer access to those who need it and helps unemployed people prepare CVs and enquire about employment.

“We have a knitting and crochet group, film matinee group, tiny tots, messy play, book bugs, knitting and crochet, along with a book group, chatterbox chat group and Lego. These groups get support from Beith Library. If it closes the groups we have to close as no other place is suitable.

“I kindly request NAC to keep the library open and be grateful if NAC could explore all other options.”

Local cllr Donald L Reid said: “The library is important to the whole community- too many buildings are dragging the town down. Campaigners have outlined the problems if the library closes. It has excellent staff.

“Beith does not have anything else to maintain the local economy.”

Rhonda Leith Head of Service (Connected Communities said: “The council is facing unprecedented financial challenges which may impact on its ability to deliver front line services. An engagement exercise regarding the future budget was carried out in late 2024. This put forward a range of potential savings or ways to generate income and invited the public to feed back on the impact that these would have, should they be implemented.

“This exercise allowed for early engagement with residents to find out how the 2025 to 2026 budget may affect communities across North Ayrshire.

“The feedback can then inform any decisions made by the Council. The engagement exercise included the following proposal around the library service: This proposal is to retain the following libraries: Millport, Largs, West Kilbride, Ardrossan, Stevenston, Arran – Brodick and Mobile library, Kilwinning, Irvine, and Kilbirnie. “

The proposal will involve the closure of the following six branch libraries: Skelmorlie, Fairlie, Dalry, Beith, Saltcoats and Dreghorn.

The committee agreed to send the petition to the Cabinet to be considered as part of the budget process.