The presentation of the petition comes hot on the heels of a decision by Exeter City Council Planning Committee to reject a planning application by developers to convert the former library site into retail and restaurants.

Andrew Bell, Exeter Green Party Press and Policy Officer, who will present the petition on Wednesday said:

“This is extremely timely. By rejecting the planning application, councillors on the City Council planning committee have sent a clear message to Devon County Council that withdrawing from negotiations with the developer about a library that was promised to the community, without sufficient explanation or another permanent site in mind, is simply unacceptable. There has been extremely strong support for this petition. Being one of the most used libraries in Devon, people realise just how important it is that there is a high quality library in St Thomas which is highly accessible, meets the needs of the local community and has full public approval.”

Notes

The full script of the petition:

We the undersigned call upon Devon County Council:

• to secure a new and permanent site for St Thomas library
• to guarantee the library provides the same or improved quality, capacity and accessibility as the current library
• to ensure that the new library meets the needs of the local community and has full public approval

To date, (including the online petition: http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/save-st-thomas-library/3674 ) there have been 431 signatories to the petition