MP slams plan to cut library opening hours

Plans to reduce opening hours at North Lanarkshire libraries have been criticised by Neil Gray MP – who says the proposals could impact residents’ability to make benefit and job applications.

The Shotts representative says the proposals are“yet another unfair and ill-thought-out cut to public services”.

Under the plans, evening opening atwishaw and Motherwell libraries is to be reduced from four nights to two and Shotts library will shut on Friday afternoons and Saturdays – as Culture NL needs to save £400,000.

Newmains library will also be closed from 2pm on Fridays, while Cleland and Newarthill libraries will reduce to opening on three days per week instead of the current five and will lose their current late nights.

Mr Gray told thewishaw Press: “Many benefits, such as universal credit, need to be applied for online. In areas where public transport is limited and for some too expensive, many people could miss deadlines due to a lack of availability.

“How are folk who work and those who need to use internet facilities supposed to gain access to the service if times are reduced, limiting availability?

“Yet again, North Lanarkshire Council and its arms-length external organisations have decided to slash the services that people rely on most.

“I would urge everyone to fill in the consultation survey and let North Lanarkshire Council and Culture NL know exactly how people feel about the continued attack on public services.”

The consultation on preferred opening days is at www. surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ libraryopeninghours and at all North Lanarkshire libraries, and runs until August 19.