Final chapter as closure dates are set for Wirral libraries


THE first of Wallasey’s two library closures will take place in less than three weeks, Wirral Council has confirmed.

The axe will fall on Wallasey Village Library on April 4, with Seacombe Library following a month later, on May 2.

The final swathe of closures will take place two months later, on July 4, when Beechwood, Hoylake, Eastham and Woodchurch Libraries close their doors for the final time.

Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Simon Holbrook said he and fellow politicians had “no involvement in the timing”, adding that the dates had been “determined by operational demands”.

Wallasey Village Library will be joined by three other facilities from across the borough, Higher Bebington, New Ferry and Ridgeway, as the first to cease operations.

But protesters , active since the council’s Strategic Asset Review (SAR) placed a final total of 11 libraries under threat in the autumn, reacted angrily to the revelations and vowed to fight on.

Liscard’s Conservative councillor, Leah Fraser vowed to reopen the affected libraries, if her party gains control of the council in 2010.

Leah Fraser said: “I shall be at Wallasey Village and Seacombe libraries on the day this council closes them and I shall be there again on the day when a new Conservative council reopens them.”

But Wallasey MP Angela Eagle said “it’s important not to get too worried about individual buildings” and criticised the Conservatives for “grandstanding from the sidelines”.

The Treasury minister told the News: “The Labour group were brave enough to take on being in minority control of the council, when the Conservatives could have taken control and didn’t.

“They are grandstanding from the sidelines, while they hope all the difficult decisions are got over by other people.”

Wirral Council says it has established a “dedicated team” to implement the closures.

THE WIRRAL NEWS

Thanks Viral Council.

MP's last-minute appeal to save libraries


A WIRRAL MP has made a last-minute appeal for Government help to halt the closure of libraries.

Ben Chapman has written to Culture secretary Andy Burnham MP following the decision to close Wirral Council's decision to close 11 libraries as part of the strategic asset review.

The first four libraries are scheduled to close on April 4, including Higher Bebington and New Ferry libraries in Mr Chapman's Wirral South constituency.

Mr Chapman has consistently campaigned for the council to reconsider and made numerous representations to Ministers.

On Tuesday he presented a petition to Parliament signed by more than 600 residents protesting against the closure of Eastham library.

He said: "I am dismayed at the council’s decision. Local people want to see their local services maintained and improved, not shut down in favour of bigger, less convenient facilities.

"School children, pensioners and those undertaking adult learning courses should be able to walk to their local library, as many do now.

"In reaching the decision that the Secretary of State will not intervene, I do not believe that there has been anything like adequate consultation with those who are most affected by the decision or consideration of the needs of the local communities affected.

"The views of library users and library staff should have been taken into account. They know best what kind of services should be provided.

"I was very disappointed with the Secretary of State’s initial decision not to intervene "at this time" and I have urged him to reconsider."

THE WIRRAL GLOB

The closure of 11 Wirral libraries has been put on hold by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham, less than 24 hours before the first was due to shut.

Wirral Borough Council announced it was axing the libraries in an overhaul of leisure facilities, despite huge public protests and MP opposition.

BBC Article

If this affects you, remember to bring it up if your council member approaches you come voting time.

its a disgrace closing libraries is this because wirral council lost a lot of money with the icelands banks? theyll be closing hospitals next to save money

I don't think that the Icelandic banks are much or anything to do with the closures - the council has been struggling to balance the books for the last few years (remember that before the banking crisis we had the ending of free "ERIC" and the crossing attendants being made redundant).

The council should get it's money back from Iceland eventually (the councils are near the front of the queue).

The reprive is good news they just need to make sure that they fix the budget so it isn't something else that is being closed next year!

I was told that they didn't lose everything in the Icelandic Banks Fiasco anyway and have already clawed some back from another source. Surely they must have a contingency of some sort anyway. I want to know what they are going to do with the money that WOULD have been going towards the libraries etc from the Council Tax Surely it can't just disappear!! They must have to account for every penny!