Wirral libraries again facing an uncertain future

Jun 13 2011 By Liam Murphy

THE future of Wirral’s libraries was again uncertain last night after political leaders admitted "creative thinking" will be needed to run them.

The borough’s new Labour administration claimed they were left as virtually "empty shells" with no one to work in them after massive job losses in the council.

Two years ago, plans to shut 11 libraries across Wirral were shelved when a Government inspector criticised the proposals after a hard-fought public inquiry.

The then-Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition running the council claimed it was a missed opportunity to invest in the service at the time.

Last night, Labour – back in power after replacing a Tory-Lib Dem administration – insisted it was "literally impossible to run the library service we used to with the skeleton staff we have remaining" and "creative thinking" was needed to avert disaster.

Cllr Chris Meaden, cabinet member for culture, who is responsible for the library service, said she was "just coming to terms with the enormity of what we inherited".

But Tory group leader Jeff Green hit back, saying Labour could not be trusted with libraries and defending his administration’s conduct.

Cllr Meaden said: "Fifty library staff have now gone and we are left with what is just the shell of a service for the people of Wirral.