Libraries to close at end of the month
CAMPAIGNERS have hit out after it was confirmed that nine county council-run buildings – including Rishton, Oswaldtwistle and Clayton-le-Moors libraries – are set to close at the end of this month.
Lancashire County Council (LCC) has released the results of its 12-week consultation into controversial cuts plans to public buildings, which has come as negotiations are ongoing to secure the future of buildings in community hands.
Teacher Emma Clark, who has led the campaign to keep Rishton Library open, blasted the announcement.
She said: “We are absolutely devastated at the announcements to date as we feel a strong viable solution has been proposed by ourselves which would benefit all residents of Rishton. We would very much welcome the opportunity to discuss our proposal further with LCC. If we lose this our village will be decimated.”
Christine Hammerton, of the Knit and Natter group which meets in Rishton Library, said the closure will cut off the people who need it most.
She said: “They have closed everything, even in this day and age where people need internet access if they’re elderly or looking for jobs. We are having to go to Great Harwood for everything. A lot of people can’t afford the bus fares and they’re not going to want to walk in the bad weather. It’s crazy.”
Gayle Knight, of the Oswaldtwistle LAMP group which has submitted a proposal to take over Oswaldtwistle Library, is worried about the possibility of the buildings being mothballed.
She said: “All along we felt that the decision had actually been made to earmark them for closure and we’ve been prepared for that. The concerning issue is that they will be closing them, and there will be a period when they are closed and left waiting for a community group to take them over. It’s a very tight timeframe and we need to hear from them now.”
Expressions of interest have been submitted for Rishton, Clayton-leMoors and Oswaldtwistle Libraries. Hyndburn Leisure Trust has also submitted an interest in taking over Great Harwood Youth Centre.
Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson said: “I’m very positive that we should get something positive in the long term. Those four buildings are the ones that we believe we have got sustainable plans put forward for and we’ll do our utmost to keep them.
“We want the county to listen and we want them not to take rash decisions.”
He added: “The last thing we want is for there to be damage or further costs that community groups might have to take on. There needs to be a lit- tle bit more time and that’s what I’ll be saying at cabinet, because we don’t want to be left with neglected buildings. We want the transfers to be as smooth and efficient as possible.”
Coun Tony Dobson, Hyndburn’s Tory leader, said: “I think all three libraries have very good bids behind them to save them, from organisations with an excellent reputation in Hyndburn. But the delay is not good at all, we want to keep the business ticking over until the groups can assume the running of them - and most of them are ready.
“I would call on the council not to close any of the buildings that they have received expressions of interest for, to create a ridiculous situation where they have to reopen months later with greater difficulty.”
A report to LCC’s cabinet recommends the closure of county buildings including young people’s and community centres at the end of September.
The cuts come as part of the latest phase of a £262 million budget reduction initiative by LCC.
BUILDINGS no longer delivering LCC services from September 30: Accrington Youth Offending Team; Clayton-le-Moors library; Clayton-le-Moors Young People’s Centre; Great Harwood Young People’s Centre; Huncoat Children’s Centre; Oswaldtwistle Library; Oswaldtwistle Young People’s Centre; Rishton Library; Sure Start Hyndburn - Accrington South Children’s Centre (The Beeches).