Hold on to history

NEARLY 130 years ago Victorian philanthropist Sir William Gilstrap gave Newark its first free public library — the Gilstrap Centre. It has been in public use ever since.

For many years it was what Sir William had intended, a public library.

Today, it is used for the Castle And Conflict exhibition, temporary exhibition space for various groups, it is home to the Romanesque arch that was believed to have once stood at the entrance to the castle chapel, and as Newark’s tourist information centre.

Standing at the edge of the castle grounds, it is the ideal spot for the tourist information as the natural point to which most tourists gravitate.

All this is under threat as Newark and Sherwood District Council, as the Gilstrap Centre’s trustees, seeks the Charity Commission’s permission to sell the building — probably to Nottinghamshire County Council for use as the town’s new register office.

The move has generated a fervent campaign to prevent the sale and, as opponents see it, to stop the council selling the family silver.

It’s not hard to see why the district council wants to sell it as it forms part of negotiations with the county council over land for a potential Newark sports hub.

Even the Gilstrap campaigners cannot argue that a sports hub would be great for the town, as would the civil war museum the council is seeking to create on Appletongate.

These developments would clearly enhance the fantastic buildings and facilities that the town already has to offer, which include the Gilstrap.

But these new facilities should not come at the expense of others.

Newark and Sherwood District Council should resist offers of deals with the county council. The Gilstrap Centre was built for the town and belongs to the town.