Fewer people using libraries
DETECTIVES have launched a murder investigation after a man died in a baseball bat attack.
The victim, a 31-year-old man, died of head injuries after violence erupted on Town Street in Batley Carr on Friday night. A 35-year-old man from Dewsbury was later arrested on suspicion of murder after going to hospital with stab wounds.
He was in custody yesterday as investigations continued at the scene, at the junction with Hyrstlands Road.
Police say the attack was an ‘isolated incident’ and that they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death.
A forensic tent and crime scene investigation team were on the street throughout Saturday as they combed the area for evidence.
Neighbours described seeing a man past out in the street after the violence broke out, before emergency services arrived at the scene and cordoned it off. It is understood the dead man is one of four brothers who live locally.
A resident, who did not want to be named, said: “After prayers, I came back home at about 10.20pm. There was an ambulance so I went over to see what was happening.
“A man was unconscious on the floor and a lady was standing near him but I’m not certain who she was. The ambulance staff and police told everyone to move away.
“I know the man who passed away. The family have four sons and two live together. The family are quite good, we’ve never had any ups or downs with them and the boys are quite good as well.”
Tazeem Bi, who lives near the scene on Conway Crescent, said: “My mum lives in Dewsbury so we were coming back this way after and Thornhill Lees in Dewsbury. However 88 jobs have been lost. Many of the remaining libraries scaled back opening hours and became more reliant on volunteers. The council also sold off its mobile library fleet, which comprised six vehicles.
Libraries in Kirklees are to undergo a massive revamp as the council looks at how to deliver services in the wake of ongoing cuts that have reached £3.5m.
In outlining that ‘libraries are about much more than books’ the authority’s chief librarian, Carol Stump, proposes to redesign library provision across the borough by focusing on what it describes as the “wider community function.”
This could mean libraries acting as hubs for a range of services such as the voluntary and community sector, primary care, adult and children’s social care, and communities 11pm. We saw a police car and two ambulances and loads of people on Town Street.
“We stopped and asked a teenager and he said a fight had happened. It’s shocking. To be honest, I’m scared to go out.”
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Scott said: “We are not looking for anyone else in what was an isolated incident.
“Clearly, local residents will be shocked to learn that this has occurred, however, there will be an increased police presence in the area to offer reassurance.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. People can also contact West Yorkshire Police online through the live chat facility available via the Force’s ‘Contact Us’ section of the website. teams as well as access to networked libraries elsewhere.
Libraries in Kirklees have suffered under crippling financial cutbacks that have already seen budgets slashed by 43 per cent.
It is expected they will drop still further to 63 per cent – falling from £5.7m to £2.2m by 2020. The council says maintaining services to more vulnerable people ‘will be extremely challenging.’
The council says that by sharing space and integrating service the new library model would reduce running costs whilst improving social connectivity.
A council spokesperson said: “Library use has changed over recent years, but they are still one of the most used community spaces in Kirklees.
“Our recent consultation made it clear that for our users, libraries are about more than books and buildings, they are also about friends, technology, learning and community.
“We know that every area is different and what works for one community may not be right for another, so we are developing local plans for each area.
“By being flexible and working closely with the local community and friends of library groups to understand what people need, we aim to deliver a sustainable, efficient and well-used library service for years to come.”