One third of public libraries in Bolton will close to save the council £400,000.
A controversial plan to axe five of the town's 15 libraries was formally passed by the Labour-controlled council's ruling executive committee today.
Protesters in the public gallery at Bolton Town Hall shouted 'shame on you' as the decision was made.
More than 15,000 residents had signed petitions against the plans.
The Conservative opposition referred the decision to a meeting of the council's scrutiny committee next Monday.
From there it will go to a council-wide vote at a meeting of the full council next Wednesday, but the closures are now virtually assured.
The five libraries that will close are in the Astley Bridge, Oxford Grove, Heaton, Highfield and Castle Hill areas of the town.
Council bosses said the closures were necessary to offset central government cuts to local authority budgets. Bolton council must save £64m over the next two years.
Chief executive Sean Harriss said: “It is not possible for the library service to be exempt in making cuts during this period.”
The council launched two periods of public consultation over the plans and surveyed residents for their views.
But the Save Bolton's Libraries Campaign accused the council of failing to listen to an 'overwhelming force of opinion' against the plans.
Spokesman Ian McHugh said after the meeting: “There is a democratic deficit at the root of our politics in Bolton. More than 15,000 people signed petitions and the council took no notice.
“The majority of the people who completed the council's survey voted against the plans. This is an insult to people.”
The decision is also expected to result in the loss of 12 jobs within Bolton's libraries network.
The library building in Heaton will remain open as a 'community building'.
To replace the axed libraries, five new neighbourhood collection points will be set up, likely to be at community centres in the areas hit by the closures. All books will be switched to those centres.
Bolton Central Library in the town centre will remain open for longer, including Sunday and Bank Holiday opening.
Libraries in Farnworth, Little Lever, Horwich, Harwood, Westhoughton, Blackrod and Bromley Cross will remain open.
The ruling however means a total loss of 145 opening hours a week across Bolton's library network.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
do people even still use libraries anymore??
do people even use libraries anymore?
do people even still use libaries?
I like the idea of libaries but I havn't bben in one for years.
It's about time all these things were on-line.
Knowing Bolton as I do, is there that many people in Boolton who can read that warrents even ONE library???
Janet and John Books maybe, anything else ???????
Yes, people do use libraries, and this decision is a disgrace. A society without libraries is not a civilised society.
While the ultimate responsibility for these cuts lies with the Tory/Lib government and the banksters who wrecked the economy, this Labour council should take its share of the blame. They should be challenging the government, not just meekly accepting it.
Where else in Bolton will the council be able to find information on fake statues - could have saved them £440,000 they paid to Mr Greenhalgh for his.
I think libraries still have a role to play, not everyone has immediate access to the internet - some cannot afford the extra cost, some chose not to have access. I grew up spending a huge amount of time in my local library - I can still smell it now :) However, 15 libraries in a town the size of Bolton seems a little excessive - they can afford to close five surely and still provide a good service?
The small army of mediocre managers on £30, 40, 50,000 or more per year at Bolton council will still be in work.
Most of them would be very lucky to get a job for £10,000 - £15,000 per year less in the private sector, such is the largesse of local government when it comes to 'senior' posts, both in terms of wages and the number hired.
I went into Heaton library one afternoon about 4pm a few weeks ago, a 1930's art deco building the childrens section takes up most of the building and was completely empty of children or parents when I visited. I am sad to see both Heaton and Astley Bridge libraries go as I used them every week mostly as a child in the 80's with my mum and older brother.
Todays parents are mostly lazy like their children so why use a library or bother opening a book when they can go on the playstation or Wii straight from school! or google something from a phone, The libraries definately helped myself personally as I went to a top university through hardwork and reading.
had to smirk as spotted in the crowd of ageing hippy campaigners on the steps of the town hall, the former head of housing at Rochdale council. To be frank the gold plated pension she will be on would keep a few libraries open!
Libraries are important. On the side of Preston's Harris Library is engraved the phrase: 'The mental riches you may here acquire abide with you always'. This lofty sentiment is true. But libraries have a more mundane everyday value too, which the internet can't replace. Libraries and librarians are a key part of civilization.
Libraries are wonderful places and technology should not take the place of a book. I credit Chorlton Library and my parents for my love of reading (almost 2,000 books at home and still buying - you can keep your Kindles!). I would go there after school, weekends, as a treat after shopping. It enabled me to try books I otherwise wouldn't have picked up, there were community groups based there that I joined and the staff would recommend new titles for me. I loved it and have some very happy memories there.
When I became a mum myself, I took my children as toddlers to my local library where we met other new mums and children, took part in reading clubs and sat on big squishy cushions reading together all afternoon. We read stories, books about history, cookery books and decided what to have for tea....my children loved going and still do and they are passionate readers too.