SURREY County Council (SCC) has defended plans for Haslemere's library and youth centre, despite growing criticism. The head of libraries has insisted that the proposals were heavily influenced by the local community which has been consulted every step of the way. Haslemere's county councillor, Christine Stevens, has urged Haslemere to get behind the proposals because going back to the drawing board would be a huge blow to the town. As previously reported by The Herald, the county council has submitted plans for a library and youth centre at the top of the Waverley-owned Wey Hill car park. The building will also house Waverley Borough Council's local office as well as public toilets to replace the block being demolished to make way for the library. The Wey Centre, owned by SCC, will be demolished and become parking space. However, the proposals have come under fire from the outset. Although the provision of a new library has been welcomed, The Herald has received letters from residents complaining that the design is uninspiring and questioning the wisdom of a multi- use building. The Haslemere Society, which has been working closely with the council on the plans, has been among those criticising the design. It said that some of its suggestions have not been taken on board. This week, the proposals came in for more flak - this time from a former leader of Waverley, Ann Mugford, who dubbed it uninteresting, dominating and enormous. "This could be such an exciting scheme," she said. "We have waited so long for a new library. Get it right Surrey." Despite the criticism, SCC hit back, arguing that the proposals have been a joint venture with the town. The head of libraries, Chris Norris, said the plans have been very much led by the public and were in line with the traditional looking, multi-use building the town has requested. "We developed the scheme as a result of extensive consultation with local people over a couple of years," he said. "It included two well-attended meetings, one held last year and the other two years ago. "We also held consultations with Waverley Borough Council and The Haslemere Society. As a result of the dialogue with (them) we developed the scheme in its present form. "The public toilet facility and Waverley Borough Council local office has been incorporated in the scheme as specified by the borough council." Christine Stevens said that SCC had previously delayed submitting the plans "so that the council could talk more with members of The Haslemere Society in particular and members of the public to discuss the design and the internal layout. Most library users just want us to get on with it. We have an opportunity to provide a facility that would be just so much better than what we have got. "Young people have mixed views about it but the idea is to provide a resource from which statutory organisations and the voluntary sector can plan a range of activities. "The policy is to bring services together and provide a really useful information point and an access point for the public. This is in partnership and we have an excellent partnership on this with Waverley Borough Council." Mrs Stevens told The Herald that most of the design of the library was in keeping with what residents had indicated they wanted - including the location which was changed from the back of the car park to the front. "As for the design," she said "people said that they preferred a front-side location as opposed to a back one and this gives us an opportunity to smarten up the area. "People will always have individual views of course, which one respects, about design, but I think that the bottom line is that if we go back to the drawing board it would be a huge delay." The planning application has already been discussed by the town council. It backed the design but criticised the private parking arrangements. Waverley has been consulted and is carrying out its own consultation. So far, Waverley has received five letters of objection, one letter supporting and two letters of comment. SCC will decide after hearing local views. The planning and regulatory committee is due to consider the application on December 14. Proposals are on display at Haslemere library until November 24.
