Campaigners have SOUL in fight to keep facilities open
A CAMPAIGN has been launched to save Oswaldtwistle library from closure.
The Save Oswaldtwistle’s Unique Library (SOUL) group has received hundreds of petition signatures and even attracted a letter of support from former Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh.
Chris Brindle, of SOUL, said they have put in an ‘expression of interest’ to Lancashire County Council (LCC) and are now working on a business plan to take over the running of the 101-year-old library.
Speaking at a recent area forum meeting, he said: “We are starting to put together now a plan of action as to how we can run it as a community library.
“The time frame for this project is very limited. By the middle of August we have to submit an information pack as to how we are going to move it forward. The council really want it out of the way and done and dusted.
“We are looking at funding options now. We desperately need money as this won’t be cheap.
“The last thing we want to do is see the library shut down. It would be a disaster if we were driving up Union Road and the boards were up as it would either be sold off or worse still left to rot.”
Mr Brindle told the meeting how 970 children from local schools used the library last year and they want to keep the facility open ‘for future generations’.
Letters of support have been received from local schools and advice is being provided by the Book Cycle charity.
Mr Brindle added: “We have a letter of support from Julie Hesmondhalgh. She is fully behind what we are doing. She put together a lovely tribute. That’s another string to our bow.
“We feel it’s a key resource and are absolutely determined not to lose it in the town.
“We want to see it as an educational hub. If we don’t take steps now to save the facility then it’s gone.
“It seems a very rushed process and we are pedalling as fast as we can.”
Libraries in Oswaldtwistle, Claytonle-Moors and Rishton, as well as five children and young people’s centres, are among community buildings facing the axe within 12 months as part of LCC cuts. A 12-week consultation is being run until the end of August.