Town library relocation a priority for new mayor of north Suffolk town

The new mayor of Eye has pledged to make the relocation of the town library and the improvements to the Town Hall her priorities for the forthcoming year.

Linda Cummins took over from Merlin Carr as the north Suffolk town's mayor on Sunday (June 9) during a service at St Peter and St Paul Church, which was conducted by The Venerable Ian Morgan, Archdeacon of Suffolk.

She said the library's move from its current home in Buckshorn Lane to the Citizens Advice Bureau premises in Cross Street would be a priority after the building was threatened with closure as part of county council cutbacks to reduce the national debt.

However, the town council stepped in and offered to set up a company to run the library and the councillors have been in negotiations with an Industrial and Provident Society set up by Suffolk County Council to support the county's library network.

Mrs Cummins said: 'We hope to get the library moved to Cross Street and there's a lot of good will to get that to happen.

'The old library building's really on its last legs. It is a square box with a flat roof and there have been problems with it.'

Her other priorities were to ensure Eye Town Hall was brought 'up to scratch' as it was undergoing restoration work and supporting the 1st Eye Scouts in their campaign for a new scout hut.

Demolition work on the scouts' old headquarters in Wellington Road began in early May and the group, which includes beavers, cubs, scouts and explorers, will be providing a new, larger hut after raising almost £130,000 over several years.

Dignitaries including the mayors of Bury St Edmunds, Bungay, Diss, Ipswich, Stowmarket and Woodbridge attended the mayor making, along with representatives from the fire service and police.

The Gislingham Silver Band also performed during the procession from the Town Hall to the church.