Last week I called on the Council to repair the heating system at Greenhill Library, which has been broken since mid-November, forcing volunteers and members of the public to endure freezing temperatures as the weather worsened.

Last Monday (18th January) I was interviewed on BBC Radio Sheffield about the heating problems at the library (starts at 01:47:00) – after which the council put out a statement that the heating system had been repaired that day. According to library volunteers, it broke down again soon after the council repair team left and the heating has not worked for the past week.

Outrageously, staff at Labour-run Sheffield City Council have also accused the volunteers of breaking the heating by tampering with the settings.

In response the Friends of Greenhill Library have said:

“The basic fact is that the boiler at Greenhill Library is not working and has not been working for almost two months despite several visits from the council’s repair team. We also reiterate that no volunteer has touched the boiler settings apart from the re-set button as instructed to do by the council’s repair team.”

Records at the library show that there have been regular problems with the heating system at the library over many years, long before the library was taken over by volunteers.

I am now calling for the Council to withdraw their accusations and to apologise to the volunteers at Greenhill Library. I am also calling for the Council to pay for a replacement boiler as it is clear that the Council seem incapable of making adequate repairs. This whole fiasco makes it clear that the present Labour administration is shirking its responsibilities to both the volunteers and the members of the public who use the library.

I will of course keep residents informed of any further developments.

Richard Shaw
Lib Dem councillor for Beauchief, Greenhill, Chancet Wood,
Lowedges, Batemoor and Jordanthorpe