Councillors will be forced to debate two petitions to save Warrington’s libraries from closure at a full council meeting on Monday after more than 14,000 residents pledged support for the campaign.
More than 10,000 people signed the Save Warrington’s Libraries petition in protest against community interest company LiveWire’s plans to make savings of £300,000 from the library service.
The 10,711 signatures far exceeds the 1,500 names needed to force councillors to debate a petition.
A second petition hoping to save Lymm Library will also be discussed after 4,248 residents backed the campaign.
Dina Kingsnorth, from the Save Warrington’s Libraries group, said: “It is one of the biggest library petitions in the country and one of the biggest Warrington petitions ever.
“The council probably won’t make a final decision about our libraries at this meeting, but they could use this as a chance to signal their support for the dumping of LiveWire’s proposals and make a fresh start, if they wanted to.
“The proposals presented were terrible – so terrible, they made it into Private Eye– the consultation was inadequate and the council should start again.
“And this time let’s work together – all of us – to come up with some genuine, inspirational ideas for a future of our wonderful library service.”
Dina and Graham Gowland, organisers of the Lymm petition, will make five-minute presentations at the meeting before a 15-minute debate among councillors.
Councillors can then take action, request more information or make recommendations to the executive board.
There was uproar after LiveWire announced plans to close some libraries in September. Instead it is proposing to move some into hubs as has happened in Orford and Woolston and open ‘lending lockers’.
Public consultation ended on October 21 and the company is preparing a report into its findings for Warrington Borough Council, which should decide on the plans early next year.
Article originally published by Warrington Guardian
