Context

Why we exist and what we are doing

On Tuesday 7th January 2025, a journalist made a member of Ryhall village aware that there was an agenda item for next week’s RCC Cabinet meeting that included the recommendation of Ryhall Library closure. This was a shock to our local County Councillors, who had only recently met with RCC to discuss the upcoming library refurbishments which would make it a more community-usable space. You can read the documents here – look for appendix M from p231 onwards and a snapshot in the image to the right.

The news article quickly spread, and soon many local residents were shocked and wanted to know how they could help to save the library in Ryhall.

An image to depict time
An image to depict time

On Wednesday 8th January, a public meeting was called for anyone who wanted to form a group who could help fight the proposals of closing the library. Over 30 residents attended and offered to help with two key actions: to get as many local people to sign our petition as possible, and to attend a demonstration on the day of the Cabinet meeting to present the petition. 

In the coming six days, volunteers garnered 1,356 paper signatures and 774 online signatures on our petition. This action was shared at the Parish Council’s extraordinary meeting on Monday 13th January, and an invitation extended to all to present the petition the next day.

On Tuesday 14th January, volunteers met in Ryhall to share lifts to Catmose Council Offices. From 9:30am, they demonstrated with a banner (kindly donated by UK Printwear) and homemade placards to urge RCC to save Ryhall Library.  The paper petition was then presented to Democratic Services, and members of the demonstration entered the Public Gallery to observe the Cabinet meeting.  Sadly, all of the recommendations were voted through. 

Since then, RLAG and the Parish Council has written three comprehensive reports which can be found here. RCC launched a consultation which closed at the end of February. The results were not discussed at their April Caninet meeting, and instead they released a statement to say they needed more time and would like to talk with ‘community leaders’. Watch this space..!

Ryhall Action Group Hero Image

 

10th April, RCC put out a library renovation tender out for Ketton, Oakham and Uppingham libraries. Ryhall Library was not included. 

Cllr Wise submitted a proposal to the RCC to the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding Ryhall Library ahead of their meeting on 1st May, requesting that it: gives a view on the current Ryhall library building – including financial sustainability and potential revenue implications;
gives a view on any suitable and sustainable alternative venues to provide community-based library service within the Ryhall locality. This was rejected at the meeting by the Committee.

 

   The Action Group’s key work and actions focus on:

  • Working with the Parish Council to challenge the closure decision and legality of the consultation;
  • Ensuring everyone is aware of the potential library closure and that they have their voices heard;
  • Lobbying Councillors so that they vote not to close the library;
  • Responding to the consultation;
  • Looking at alternatives to RCC’s library provision, such as community-managed libraries, as a ‘plan B’.

The Action Group meets regularly to work on actions to achieve these; a small, core group also meets in between as we only have a very short time before the decision is made.

An image to depict time