Cameron is enlisted in libraries fight
CHARLOTTE GREEN
HYNDBURN’S MP has lifted the lid on how he enlisted David Cameron in talks over saving the borough’s libraries in his final days at 10 Downing Street.
Graham Jones made a personal appeal to the outgoing PM to find a way to secure the future of libraries earmarked for closure should county hall bosses pull their funding.
Campaigners are fighting the proposed funding cuts by Lancashire County Council (LCC) which would threaten with closure 34 Lancashire libraries - including those in Clayton-leMoors, Rishton and Oswaldtwistle - unless community groups can take them over.
Mr Jones told the Observer: “I have spoken to the outgoing prime minister before he resigned on this matter and he assured me that his government will do what they can in terms of helping community groups if they wish to take over the running of the libraries.
“I explained to him that it was his government’s cuts that created this problem and I will oppose these cuts, but I am also keen to see that libraries will not close.”
In a letter to Mr Jones dated July 4, Mr Cameron said: “I am told that no final decision will be made on any of the proposals until the Council’s Cabinet has had the opportunity to fully consider and evaluate all the information gathered as part of the consultation process, including any viable alternative options that are put forward.”
Mr Jones, who presented a 6,000-strong petition opposing the closures to the House of Commons on Wednesday, July 20, said he hopes he can work with new Prime Minister Theresa May to identify alternative funding to support groups to take on the running of any libraries for which funding is withdrawn.
The newly formed Oswaldtwistle Lamp Community Group, as well as social enterprise Mercer House 1842 and campaigners from Rishton are working to secure the long-term future of the libraries and are currently assessing ways to retain the services without further financial support from LCC.
Community groups have until a deadline of August 14 to submit their expression of interest to LCC for a ‘whole building transfer’.
County council bosses say that they need to save £200m in the next five years. This is as a result of the ongoing government budget cuts and the rising demand for council services.