Frustrated opponents of the proposed library location at Carrington Park took to Facebook earlier this week to vent and discuss possible solutions to be put forward to Hilltops Council.
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Many of the local residents say they feel as though the council was not listening to the public about the location and questioned who had proposed removing a portion of the park for the slated site in the first place.
One person said they contacted Hilltops Council mayor Brian Ingram and directed him towards the Facebook post so he could see for himself the ‘real’ response from local residents.
“I asked him to look at a conversation on Facebook and see what it is people are saying and thinking,” Janice Hunter said.
“There is nothing cut and dried and no DA (Development Application) as yet. I tried to get the point across that this park belongs to the people.
“He (Mr Ingram) said he was mindful of the fact that they would not make much of a footprint in the park and it also involves the YHS (Young High School) grant.
“I also tried hard to get him to to see that the location will also be wrong. The existing Library is in the heart of the town, so easily accessible as it is in a nice wide street and so handy to everything.
“I thought about it all night. I don't feel very hopeful. He didn't have an answer for me when I told him about my conversation with a councillor last year other than to say it wasn't cut and dried. I hope that when we went to the last election, we made a good choice of councillors who were prepared to listen.”
Many people on the thread suggested alternative locations including the Reece Plumbing building which is about to become vacant, the back of Town Hall as well as refurbishing the current library location.
“I seriously cannot believe Carrington Park is a consideration. Leave the concrete walls out of our beautiful Park,” Young resident Gay Prest commented.
Mayor Ingram did not respond to comments on the Facebook post but told the Witness the Council was aware of the concerns some members of the community have about building the library at Carrington Park.
”I want to assure everyone that we hear you loud and clear and that these are all issues that we’re taking into account and addressing as part of the preliminary site analysis,” Mr Ingram said
Read the rest of Mr Ingram’s interview on page 5 in the story ‘Steering committee for education precinct’.
Rebecca Hewson
A local with a love of local news reporting for the people across the Hilltops and Weddin areas.
A local with a love of local news reporting for the people across the Hilltops and Weddin areas.
