New plan to save village library as it faces axe

COUNCILLORS BELIEVE they have a plan to save their village library, which is at risk of being axed in Calderdale Council proposals to save £ 2m a year.

Hipperholme and Lightcliffe councillors George Robinson, Colin Raistrick and David Kirton say their strategy to save Hipperholme Library is “oven ready”, would make it self- financing and they have outlined it to a Cabinet member. More than 800 people have already signed a petition protesting against its closure.

The village library is under threat as the council’s Cabinet prepares to make budget savings, with members saying an already difficult financial situation following years of grant reductions has been exacerbated by the pandemic and action must be taken to balance the books.

Next year the council may have to save money from services – indications are around £ 15m in the next financial year – it does not legally have to provide as the pandemic has led to ongoing income losses, particularly from council tax, business rates, parking and leisure centres.

The ward councillors stress their strategy would work only for Hipperholme Library and so it would not set a precedent for others at risk of closure in Cabinet’s proposals.

They argue their strategy would allow the Cabinet to make the £ 150,000 saving, while keeping Hipperholme Library open in the long run.

Coun Robinson said Hipperholme Library is very well used and is a “special case” in that the ground floor units are leased to tenants.

Coun Raistrick said it would be a misguided decision to close the library at a time when communities needed more support than ever and said fairness was also an issue. “The library is as important to Hipperholme as the Piece Hall and the Victoria Theatre are to Halifax and yet hundreds of thousands of pounds are thrown at them,” he said.