I write from Birkdale Southport. Our local library is under threat of closure and knowing how well and successfully you yourselves on the Wirral fought off your own proposed closures a few years back, we as a group BLAG, (Birkdale Library Action Group) are looking for suggestions of how to fight these proposals.
Can you help by telling us how you went about it? How you brought about a judicial review (Is this correct?) etc
Any help and suggestions will be greatly appreciated
Len Pentin
BLAG
I think I just signed a petition.
Try to get as many people as possible to use the library, to show the council how valuable the service is to its users.
Good luck. I'm sure Wirral Council will try to close our libraries again, next year.
Lots of petitions etc. Don't let them tell you to shut up.
The following news reports are in date order, you may find more information on the web too.
http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/wirral-...e-centres-facing-the-axe-80491-22332994/http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/wirral-...y-closure-dates-revealed-92534-23151725/http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/apr/06/libraries-andyburnhamThe leisure centres also at the same time. They arranged meetings with MP's and councillors but also had masses of petitions at all the centres.
Good Luck.
Also
Dec. 2008
http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/3969573.Hundreds_protest_at_library_closures/April 2009
http://www.fm-world.co.uk/news/fm-industry-news/local-inquiry-puts-wirral-library-closure-on-hold/The strange thing is, that after the leisure centres were reprieved, some had megga amounts of money spent on them to upgrade and improve! Don't know about the libraries, but Irby library has recently undergone some refurbishment.
You could maybe find something on the 'Hansard Debate'. That's the Parlaimentary debates which take place about all things to which your MP will put forward questions to be answered by relevent Ministers. You may see something that has already come under discussion.Not easy to find tho'.
The Wirral people attended numerous council meetings with banners and very loud hecklimg of elected members, they wrote to local MP's and local media, one community minded local lady organised coaches of elderly ladies and young children to attend some of these council meeting's at the Town hall en masse.
ps. The more sustainable the building is the more likely the council will keep it and cut something else instead, is there no way you can use the building for other uses as well as its present usage? May be utilise community volunteers instead of paid workers? just a thought. I wish all the best with your campaign and I'm sure if you put a link on here to an online petition the good people of the Wirral would sign and support it.