CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Bollington Library will turn out at a Cheshire East meeting next week to oppose the council’s plans to slash the opening hours to one and a half days a week.
As has been previously reported, Cheshire East was expected to consult on proposals to close the libraries at Alderley Edge, Bollington, Disley and Handforth.
The agenda for next week’s meeting of the environment and communities committee now shows the council plans to reduce the opening hours at these four sites to one and a half days a week.
The Friends of Bollington Library were meeting last night (Thursday) to discuss their next plan of action.
But Nigel Macartney told the Local Democracy Reporting Service yesterday that even though closure no longer seems to be on the cards, he is still incensed by what is proposed for consultation.
“The general public in Bollington will be very, very disappointed that the library is still being shut on all days, apart from one and a half,” he said.
“The [draft library] strategy referred to in the report, talks about the importance of learning by young people and the role of libraries, and it does seem ironic that they're now reducing those opportunities by two thirds in the case of Bollington and the other three libraries.”
Mr Macartney also pointed out some libraries – those in the proposed ‘tier two’, which includes Alsager, Holmes Chapel, Knutsford, Middlewich, Poynton and Sandbach, could also face further cuts because what is already being proposed won’t make the required savings.
“I note that they have threatened the other libraries remaining with reductions, but they aren't putting that out to consultation,” said Mr Macartney.
“So it's divide and rule. The four libraries which were in their target for being closed altogether, are now being put up as subject to consultation for major cuts, but there is a threat to the others where it says they could review the hours of tier two libraries, withdraw customer service access points, reduce the book fund and maybe scrap the mobile library service.
“Now they've left that hanging.
“The staff won't know what their future is, the users don't know what's going to happen to tier two libraries. It's an extraordinary document.”
Mr Macartney said the Friends of Bollington Library would be encouraging its several hundred members to attend next week’s environment and communities committee meeting.
The environment and communities committee meeting takes place at Macclesfield Town Hall at 10am on Thursday, July 18.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here