Final chapter as closure dates are set for Wirral libraries

Mar 18 2009 Bromborough and Bebington News

THE first pair of Bromborough and Bebington’s three library closures will take place in less than three weeks, Wirral Council has confirmed.

The axe will fall on New Ferry and Higher Bebington Libraries on April 4, but Eastham Library will not follow suit until three months later, on July 4.

Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Simon Holbrook said he and fellow politicians had “no involvement in the timing”, adding that the dates had been “determined by operational demands”.

Higher Bebington and New Ferry will be joined by two other libraries from across the borough, Ridgeway and Wallasey Village, as the first to cease operations.

But campaigners, active since the council’s Strategic Asset Review (SAR) placed a final total of 11 libraries under threat in the autumn, reacted angrily to the revelations and vowed to fight on.

Marjorie Hall is chairman of Eastham Village Preservation Association.

She told the News: “We are going to judicial review over the lack of consultation and have had a lot of support from Ben Chapman MP, who was in Parliament on Tuesday to deliver a petition.

“The people are still extremely annoyed over it, and the fact we’ve never been consulted.

“They’ve just walked all over us.”

Eastham councillor, Phil Gilchrist added his disappointment: “Along with my colleagues, Tom Harney and Dave Mitchell, I will do all I can to persuade councillors to think again over the next few weeks and months.

“Local people are really angry, bitter and frustrated.”

Cllr Simon Holbrook believes the release of dates, “ends the uncertainty over the libraries” and revealed that the process to ensnare £20million of borrowing to invest in new ‘multi-purpose complexes’ is running parallel, but “will take some time to conclude”.