COUNCIL CAN’T READ THE WRITING ON THE WALL
a media release on the 17th October 2007
William Graham (Conservative AM for South Wales East) responding to Newport City Council’s refusal to allow volunteer to run a ‘children’s book club at Bettws Library commented:
“It is alarming that the number of children leaving school who leave school without any qualifications is increasing. It is acknowledged that a determining factor behind this increase is that these children have great difficulties with, or are unable to read and write”.
“This fact alone makes Newport City Council’s decision, not to allow a suitably experienced volunteer to use Bettws Library for a children’s book club to encourage young children to read, quite unbelievable”.
“Mrs Hazel Hadden, who assisted children with reading at Monnow Infants school, should be both applauded and supported for her initiative”.
“Newport City Council can’t read the writing on the wall. We need a high skilled innovative workforce, and the key to achieving this is through encouraging children to stretch the imaginations and enhance their research skills, through reading books and using the wider facilities offered by our libraries”.
“Mrs Hadden has realised a community need and been motivated to meet the challenge of addressing this matter. I would be expecting the City Council to be shortly announcing that it is setting-up a net work of children’s book club throughout their libraries and that they are going to reconsider using suitable qualified volunteers to promote children’s services”.
William Graham JP, AM
CHIEF WHIP, PARTY CHAIRMAN AND EUROPEAN SPOKESMAN
Email – William.Graham@Wales.gov.uk