North Ayrshire Council is considering closing the town library and opening a much poorer alternative at James Watt College to save a few bawbees. The current facility is an excellent, purpose built library that serves the town very well. It is centrally located for many housing areas and can be easily reached on foot, by bicycle, by bus and by car and has ample parking. It is a welcoming environment for members of our community from all age groups. It is safe and quiet and very well suited to everyone including those with learning difficulties and disabilities. The proposed facility in the college is wholly inappropriate. It will be much smaller and the college is very busy with large numbers of active and very vocal young people. It will be a much more challenging environment for more vulnerable members of our community and the change will almost certainly result in library users attending less frequently or stopping altogether. Parking is hopeless with overspill from the college already causing congestion in the town centre car parks. If the current library is closed it is likely to become a target for vandals and will quickly become an eyesore – offsetting much of the proposed financial saving. This is a short sighted action by the council that fails to understand the very important role the library plays in education, entertainment and improving the quality of life for the town’s residents. Having spent a large sum refurbishing the Main Street why does the council wish to turn back the clock on the regeneration of Kilwinning? Speak up for your library – sign the petition below. Let your councillor know how you feel about this destructive proposal. Attend NAC committee meetings and make your presence known. Join the Community Council in this important fight to safeguard this valuable asset. We the undersigned demand that North Ayrshire Council leave Kilwinning Library where it is and reject this unwelcome relocation proposal. Hands off our library!