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BALANCING THE BOOKS Libraries in our six towns are safe ... but two others face closure while jobs are axed and opening times reduced in proposed £1.8m council budget cuts
ALL six town libraries in North Kirklees have survived council budget cut plans – but under the proposals, there will be job losses and a reduction in opening hours at Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike and Mirfield. In addition, Thornhill Lees library faces closure from April next year, while council funding could be withdrawn from Ravensthorpe library, which will be shut down unless volunteers agree to run it. Under the proposals, to be debated by Kirklees Council’s cabinet at Huddersfield Town Hall on Tuesday (4pm), £1.8m will be carved from the library service
By David Miller News Reporter davidmiller@thepressnews.co.uk
budget of £5.7m, 88 full-time jobs axed and opening times reduced by an overall 40 per cent. Dewsbury Library would be open for 50 hours a week, Batley, Cleckheaton and Mirfield 35 hours and Birstall and Heckmondwike 30 hours. But Friends groups would be allowed to open their libraries at times when paid staff are not available. Ravensthorpe, if it survives as a “community supported” library at the Greenwood Centre on Huddersfield Road, would open for
only 20 hours a week. Other proposals include: ■ Scrapping all mobile libraries from next April 1; ■ Reviewing buildings for the suitability of housing several services together; ■ Plans for volunteers to run libraries alone shelved. The announcements follow four months of consultation and petitions against closures signed by thousands of people. Said Batley & Spen MP Jo Cox, who campaigned to keep the four libraries in her constituency open: “This is a great victory. “It is fantastic news and a welcome relief for thousands of local people who were desperate to save
their valuable community resources and vital lifelines for so many people. “This is a great result and the right result. I am delighted that the council has listened and taken on board the concerns and feelings of my constituents.” Volunteers at Heckmondwike and Mirfield libraries gave a more cautious welcome. Cabinet member for resources Coun Graham Turner said the plan strikes a balance between retaining services and budget cuts. He said: “I wanted to make sure that we preserved as much of the service as possible. “I believe with the help of volun-
teers and hard-working committed staff we have achieved this. “Our proposals are in line with what other councils are doing, especially regarding the mobile service, the use of volunteers and single staff in libraries.” He added libraries play other vital roles and said: “They offer important access to the internet for many who do not have that at home. “In many cases they have evolved into community hubs where many groups meet. “And they can help alleviate social isolation and help our early intervention and prevention strategy, helping people live better lives.”
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