Concerns have been raised about Peel Commissioners’ preliminary plans to move a museum and library into the Philip Christian Centre (PCC).

We recently wrote about the manager of a Peel playgroup - which uses the PCC - who said relocating the Leece Museum and the Ward Library would affect groups and families that rely on the centre’s facilities.

We spoke to Peel residents to get their views of the commissioner’s idea.

’I’m definitely against moving the museum and library,’ said Ray Gell, 74. ’Even though I don’t use either it’s something that’s for the people.

’The Ward Library was given to the town and it’s a nice building. We do see people going in quite a lot. The Leece Museum locally won’t be used a lot because like us if you’ve been in, you’ve been in.

’If the PCC was a library people might use it, but the museum is more of a visitor attraction and the centre is out of the way and out of view.’

He believes that the library and museum shouldn’t be abandoned, sold or made into anything else.

’I’m not against progress in the town, but that’s not progress. That’s a backwards step. They should leave them exactly where they are,’ he said.

Peter Crowe thinks that moving both facilities into the PCC won’t work.

’I cannot see the point of it myself. What are they trying to cut back on?’ he asked. ’The Ward Library is a proper grand building and the Leece Museum has lots of heritage. There’s quite a bit in Peel that’s going missing.’

Frances Walkden, 74, said: ’Leave them where they are. I think the quay is an excellent place [for a museum]. The footfall is huge there and it’s important to get that. I don’t use the library anymore. I used it when I lived nearby. Nowadays I just don’t travel that far.’

Edna Durber, 62, said: ’They should leave them where they are. It’s convenient for the people of Peel.’

She said the Ward Library is a ’lovely building’, which was purpose-built to be a library.

’The Leece Museum is in a good place for any tourist at the moment and it’s in a nice place on the quay. The PCC is not a building that would do either of them justice.’

Steph Durber, 26, said: ’I’ve been to the PCC for a couple of baby groups. There’s probably not enough space for library and museum there.’

Edna added that her husband is involved with the Peel Pensioners, which regularly meets at the PCC.

When asked where the groups that use the centre could go, Edna replied: ’The Centenary Centre is quite full. There’s not really anywhere else these things [groups] could go to.’

Steph said: ’It’s probably why they go to the PCC because there’s nowhere else.’

Pat Skillicorn uses the library regularly. She said although she understands the historic value she would not mind if it’s moved.

’There might be more space and more books if it moved to the PCC,’ she said. ’The museum’s better on the quay.’

Leonard Spencer added: ’The Leece Museum is important for visitors and has lots of stuff about Knockaloe.’

When asked where the various groups that use the PCC could go, Pat replied: ’Perhaps I need to consider that people use that space and where they can go.’