Library battle hots up
THE battle to save Appledore Library gathered momentum this week with the news that Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox has pledged his support for the villagers' campaign.
Lyn Callaghan, press officer for the local action group Friends Of Appledore Library (FOAL), said Mr Cox's public backing coincided with the release of figures that showed an extra 112 people had joined the library this year.
"That represents a 24 per cent increase and appears to show that Appledore Library has the fastest-growing membership in Devon," she said.
Mr Cox said: "I am extremely concerned at the threatened closure of Appledore Library and I have written to Devon County Council urging them to reconsider a measure so damaging to the local community. I deplore the idea of closing libraries. You may rest assured I shall do all I can to keep the library open and intend to monitor the situation closely."
Children's author Nick Arnold, chairman of FOAL, said: "We are delighted with the upsurge in membership as that makes it impossible for the library to be closed on the grounds of underuse. FOAL has already pledged £5,000 to redecorate the library so it also cannot be closed on the grounds of being shabby."
He also revealed that membership of FOAL had risen to 231.
Appledore is one of a number of smaller libraries under threat throughout Devon under a review of the services by the county council.
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