Wirral libraries: ‘This is not the end’ say campaigners

Apr 8 2009 Birkenhead News

CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating a temporary victory after the government’s public inquiry put library closures on hold.

With Ridgeway a day from closure and Beechwood and Prenton just months from issuing their final books, protesters declared Andy Burnham’s last minute intervention “a vindication of everything we have done”.

Wirral Campaign Against Cuts (WCAC) has been meeting regularly to formulate a strategy as council chiefs remained unbowed, drawing support from a broad cross section of society and both sides of the political fence.

WCAC spokesman Alec McFadden told the News: “We asked for openness and transparency and all we got from the council was party block votes.

“As far as we’re concerned this is a vindication of everything we’ve done.”

Oxton councillor Patricia Williams was one of the few Liberal Democrats to vote against her party, and the closures.

She condemned the “macho” way the issue had been dealt with in Cabinet and hoped that “common sense will prevail”. Cllr Williams said: “I am delighted Andy Burnham has taken note of the wealth of opposition by deciding to hold an inquiry.