Saved Wirral libraries to 'never face cuts again'

Six libraries in the borough had been under threat of closure

Six local libraries in Wirral will remain open after councillors promised no further cuts would be made to the service under the current leadership.

All six libraries had been under threat after the authority outlined its plans to save £250,000 earlier this year.

However, following a public consultation, and amid widespread opposition to the proposed closures, councillors unanimously agreed to save the six libraries earmarked for the axe.

Labour councillor Paula Basnett, who became Wirral Council leader only after the initial proposed cuts were announced by the authority, said it "wasn't a difficult decision, it was the right decision".

Protesters had gathered outside Wallasey Town Hall ahead of the meeting

"Everybody agreed it was the wrong option for libraries to close," said Ms Basnett.

"This should never have been an agenda item. It should never have got to this meeting."

She said, under her leadership, the council would never again propose closing the libraries.

This was echoed by Conservative councillor Ian Lewis, who chairs the Tourism, Communities, Culture and Leisure Committee.

Their comments followed a meeting of the committee on Thursday during which councillors were asked to retain just eight of Wirral's council-run libraries, with six others - in Greasby, Rock Ferry, Beechwood, Leasowe, Seacombe and St James - facing potential closure.

Councillors unanimously agreed to throw out the plans to cheers from those in attendance, many of whom spoke out over the proposals.

One woman, who attended the meeting with her young daughter, described Greasby library as her sanctuary after moving to the area, another, a terminally ill resident, said she had found help and resources at her local library.

Conservative councillor Jenny Johnson described libraries as " the lifeblood of communities", while Liberal Democrat Chris Carubia argued libraries were one of the few areas of the council that still offered face-to-face support to residents.

Announcing their decision to ditch the proposal at the meeting on Thursday, councillors asked the Policy and Resources committee to look at how, going forward, library services can be run as community hubs.

Officers have also been tasked with making sure the doors of all six libraries that had been threatened with closure remain open.

Earlier this year, a £250,000 cut was unanimously agreed as part of the local authority's budget over the next two years. With the proposed closure of the six libraries now abandoned, the local authority will have to find savings elsewhere in order to balance the books.

At the same meeting, councillors also unanimously agreed to reopen Irby library after a long campaign by local Labour councillors.

The library, which closed in 2022, is expected to be run by the charity which took over Pensby Library. The authority has agreed funds to upgrade the building, which has been closed for three years.