Wirral libraries’ consultation ‘was insufficient’

Aug 19 2009

A GOVERNMENT minister has hit out at the way Wirral council consulted residents over the controversial closure of libraries.

Barbara Follett MP, under-secretary of state at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, said there was a "clear perception emerging" that consultation was "insufficient".

She named Eastham library – the proposed closure of which was announced at the last minute – as a specific cause for concern.

Her comments were made in a letter to Wirral South MP Ben Chapman in response to his campaign to stop the closure of Eastham library as part of the council’s controversial Strategic Asset Review (SAR).

The letter followed a public inquiry into the library closures, which formed part of the council’s SAR.

The inquiry was ordered by the- then culture secretary Andy Burnham MP, just a day before the first libraries were due to close.

It was led by inspector Sue Charteris, who visited libraries threatened with closure and heard evidence during a two-day hearing at the Floral Pavilion, in New Brighton.

Her report has since been passed to the DCMS and Wirral council for fact-checking.

In her letter, Mrs Follett added: "As you know, Ms Charteris, who is leading the inquiry into Wirral Council’s proposed library closures, has now considered all the evidence presented and is now finalising her report.

"Regrettably, a clear perception is emerging that the consultation in Wirral has been insufficient, especially in the case of Eastham library."