Campaigners in line for £5,000 start-up cash
OSWALDTWISTLE library campaigners are in line for a £5,000 boost after complaining they had been excluded from council backing.
Communities groups fighting to keep Rishton and Clayton-le-Moors libraries open were granted £5,000 each from Hyndburn council’s cabinet action fund in July to support their bid preparation for Lancashire County Council (LCC).
But the Oswaldtwistle Lamp Community Group (OLCG) complained to the council when they were originally not offered the same.
Council bosses have now confirmed that the equivalent fund has now been pledged for start-up running costs should the group be successful in its bid to take over Oswaldtwistle library.
Campaigner Chris Brindle, of OLCG, said: “We weren’t offered the same amount at the time, it was only Rishton and Clayton that were offered the money, quite how it came about we don’t know.
“It was sort of done behind closed doors and we thought it was strange we weren’t included in that.
“It certainly wasn’t offered to us at the time, we wouldn’t have turned £5,000 down.”
Opposition leader Coun Tony Dobson had criticised the way the funding had been distributed as “an innately political manoeuvre”.
Oswaldtwistle currently has predominantly Conservative representation on the council, whereas Rishton and Clayton-le-Moors are controlled by Labour.
He said: “It’s not responsible and not sharing equally for everybody, just picking and choosing who you’re fighting for.”
However, Hyndburn council leader Coun Parkinson denied there was any political motives.
He told the Observer: “Rishton and Clayton needed help to provide the documents and plan for the libraries. They asked for funding specifically so that they could provide a document that was of a standard that would be considered for their case, so we arranged for Mercer House 1842 to come in to work with them on that.
“I have had a meeting with the group from Oswaldtwistle, and they have a concern that they have missed out on some opportunity.
“When they came forward they didn’t require help on the expression of interest but what they have asked for is the same amount of money should they be successful, and we will support their bid and have made a funding pledge to them.”