A CONSULTATION into the future of Ensbury Park Library was blasted as “bias” and “lacking objectivity” by councillors during a debate at Bournemouth Town Hall. 

Ward councillors Jackie Edwards and Stephen Bartlett raised their concerns at a meeting on Tuesday night – after the borough produced a report scrutinising the consultation process into the service’s future following complaints by residents. 

The authority has always admitted its favoured option is to move the library from the Columbia Road site to the Bournemouth Learning Centre on Ensbury Avenue. 

Cllr Bartlett said: “I think the consultation omitted the obvious option of refurbishing the flat [above the library] and letting it out to produce a revenue. 

“I think this does display a slight lack of objectivity and perhaps a bias towards a preferred option.”

He added that he “wondered what the real objective was and... whether it is to actually realise the value of the asset... particularly when the cost savings being talked about are so miniscule”. 

“I would question the relevance of asking people in Boscombe what they think of the library in Ensbury Park,” said Cllr Bartlett.

“I think it does actually dilute or attempts to dilute the real impact on the residents who clearly, when you separate out their comments, are overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the library where it is.”

And his ward colleague Cllr Edwards said the possibility of refurbishing the site “seemed to have been ignored”, and added: “With reference to the deputation by two residents over the bias of the consultation, I would like to say that there was a great deal of information given to option one [the option to relocate the library to the Bournemouth Learning Centre].”

Their comments came after campaigner Keith Watson questioned why the same council officer who wrote the consultation document had been tasked with writing a report to scrutinise it. 

“A balanced report would have advised the benefits of the present library which would be lost in the proposed relocation. These facts were not stated to the public and they were not stated on purpose,” said Mr Watson. 

Meeting chairman Cllr Michael Weinhonig said he took “any criticism of a serving council officer quite personally” and defended the quality of the report.

Service and strategy manager Medi Bernard, who wrote the consultation document and follow-up report, said: “My sole interest is to provide the best library services I can with the money that I’ve got.”

And leisure portfolio holder Cllr Lawrence Williams said: “Responses have been analysed to ensure that the views of those using Ensbury Park Library are drawn out and clearly identifiable, as well as giving a broader picture of the views of library users across the borough.”

The council says Ensbury Park Library will remain open while the results of the consultation are considered.

UPDATE: The Council has advised the claim made by Keith Watson is inaccurate. The consultation document and Scrutiny Panel report were not prepared by the same member of staff.  The consultation document was written by staff within the consultation team, based on all available information about the various options for consideration by the Council.