Shock as Eastham library is added to Wirral Council’s closure list - but Bromborough library is saved

Jan 21 2009 by Matt Hurst, Bromborough and Bebington News

Shock as Eastham library is added to Wirral Council’s closure list - but Bromborough library is saved

EASTHAM Library will close, despite investment of more than £300,000 over three years - but strength of protest has saved Bromborough library.

Hundreds of Wirral residents packed into Wallasey Town Hall last Thursday to hear council leader, Cllr Steve Foulkes, deliver his cabinet’s verdict on the controversial strategic asset review and subsequent public consultation.

The Labour leader told those assembled: “I hope you believe the consultation has been genuine”, after the heavy peninsula wide closures initially proposed were altered.

Cllr Foulkes said he had been “quite shocked” by public anger over the suggested closure of Bromborough Library, and as a result the library and Bromborough Civic Centre will become south Wirral’s “new hub”, at a cost to Eastham library.

Despite no threat of closure in the initial council officer’s report, and no public consultation over its future, Eastham library will close.

Eastham councillor Dave Mitchell said he was “taken aback by the decision” while his colleague, Cllr Phil Gilchrist, said he only found out from watching the news.

Cllr Gilchrist said: “What happened was the council saw the strength of petitions for Bromborough, the 5,000 names, and misinterpreted what it meant.

“On behalf of the community, intensive efforts are being made to put that right.”

The Liberal Democrats held a meeting over the decision on Monday night, where party leader Cllr Simon Holbrook made efforts at conciliation with his Eastham councillors.

Cllr Gilchrist told the News: “We’re working to address the situation and make sure Eastham is properly considered.”

Wirral South MP Ben Chapman also weighed in, calling the switch “wrong in both form and substance”.

The final decision will be made at the full council meeting on February 9, and all efforts are now aimed at making sure Eastham residents’ voices are heard.