‘Hands off our libraries’ plea

A campaign has been launched to force council bosses to scrap plans to transfer ownership of libraries to an arms-length organisation.

Aberdeenshire Council plans to hand over control of libraries, swimming pools and museums to a charitable trust.

The authority claims the move, which was approved in November, would save it £1 million.

However the decision has provoked opposition amid fears it could lead to a reduction in library services, as well as closures in rural communities.

Stonehaven Community Council has launched a campaign to oppose the plans and is calling for a day of action across the region.

Chairman Phil Mills-bishop said: “We have never supported these plans and we have never accepted the principles behind making the move.

“It’s also questionable whether this will make the saving the council says it will now the Barclay Report has recommended that arms-length organisations should no longer be exempt from business rates.

“There are also dangerous issues around governance – only 25% of the membership will be elected members, which means they will not have a majority vote.

Maria Walker, Aberdeenshire Council’s director of education and children’s services, said: “Arrangements are yet to be finalised, and we’ll provide further details in due course.”