Heartbeat star David Lonsdale said he hopes the new Cornerstone Library “will be woven into the fabric of Churchtown for many years to come ” as he officially declared it open.
The TV actor was honoured to be invited to cut the ribbon to open the new facility, which is based inside the vestry of the Cornerstone Methodist Church on Marshside Road in Southport.
Scores of people gathered for the special event, which followed a 10-year campaign to open a new library in the northern end of the town after the sad closure of Churchtown Library in 2013.
The new Cornerstone Library in Southport has been officially opened by Heartbeat star David Lonsdale. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The old Churchtown Library, one of seven closed that year by Sefton Council through huge cuts in funding due to austerity, has since been replaced by housing.
Campaigners have faced many challenges over the past decade.
They initially fought unsuccessfully for Churchtown Library to be saved.
Then they hoped to open a new library inside an empty building inside the Botanic Gardens in Churchtown, only to be turned down for National Lottery funding.
Campaign leader Elaine Langley then tragically died.
The new Cornerstone Library in Southport has been officially opened by Heartbeat star David Lonsdale. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
When they were working towards opening a library at its current site, the Covid pandemic swept in and halted progress.
The new library is now being run by volunteers from the North Meols Library Association, who are delighted that the day they have been working towards for so long has finally happened.
The official opening of the library by David Lonsdale saw a celebratory cake delivered by local firm Cake Creations, while the Mighty Radio lion made a special appearance.
The new Cornerstone Library in Southport has been officially opened by Heartbeat star David Lonsdale. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
Speaking at the event, David Lonsdale said: “I was always fascinated by library stamps. I spent hours working out how old the books I took out were and how many people had taken them out.
“I am delighted that you have a stamp here!
“Technology has not yet ruined it for generations to come.
“It’s crazy. Most people here today are from Churchtown but we are in a globalised world that is ruled by the internet.
“I think it’s really lovely that these places still exist.
The new Cornerstone Library in Southport has been officially opened by Heartbeat star David Lonsdale. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“Most of my memories – even though I’ve lived and worked all over the place – are local, to this particular place.
“Hopefully this new library will be woven into the fabric of Churchtown for many years to come and will give a little knowledge but a lot of memories to generations who walk through this door.”
Cornerstone Library Trustee Kim Ardron said: “We are officially open! What a fantastic weekend we had for our grand opening.
The new Cornerstone Library in Southport has been officially opened by Heartbeat star David Lonsdale. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“Thanks to all our volunteers for all their hard work, our celebrity David Lonsdale from Heartbeat and all at Mighty Radio for your support. We can’t forget our amazing celebration cake from Cake Creations. Most of all thank you, our supporters.
“Our dream of a community library for the Marshside / Churchtown area has come true.
“We started out as Friends Of Churchtown Library and we tried to keep the library open.
The new Cornerstone Library in Southport has been officially opened by Heartbeat star David Lonsdale. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“As you know, we failed in that endeavour.
“And then Elaine Langley, the late Elaine Langley, formed the North Meols Library Association with the intention of creating a volunteer-run library for the people of North Meols.
“That was 10 years ago! There’s been a lot of slips and trips over the years, not least trying to open The Library In The Gardens which unfortunately we couldn’t get Lottery funding for.
“Then unfortunately Elaine died and we floundered for a little while.
The new Cornerstone Library in Southport has been officially opened by Heartbeat star David Lonsdale. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“Then the church, which had already stored some books for us, offered us this room which we refurbished with volunteer support and donations which people had given us.
“We refurbished the room – and then Covid hit! For two years, nothing happened.
“But, thanks to the work of all the volunteers – and recently we have had some wonderful people come on board, who have really got things moving – now we are actually open which is wonderful.
The new Cornerstone Library in Southport has been officially opened by Heartbeat star David Lonsdale. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“I would like to make a special thank you to all our volunteers, past and present; all the trustees, past and present; I would like to thank everybody, and thank you very much for coming.”
Community campaigns elsewhere in Southport have already seen the opening of the Birkdale Community Hub and Library next to Birkdale Train Station in 2021, and the Edda educational and cultural hub and library in Ainsdale Village in 2015.
The new Cornerstone Library in Southport has been officially opened by Heartbeat star David Lonsdale. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
The new Cornerstone Library is serving the communities of Banks, Churchtown, Crossens, High Park, Marshside and beyond.
For more details please visit The Cornerstone Library Churchtown page on Facebook.
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