The future of a library that won a “reprieve from cuts” is still set to be debated with further cuts to budgets yet to come. This comes after proposals to cut more than £100,000 from Bolton’s library and museum services at the last council budget meeting earlier this year. But questions have now been raised at town hall, particularly about the future of Blackrod Library on Church Street with claims that there has been no further communication from council officials.
Cllr Samantha Williamson, of Horwich South and Blackrod, said: “In the last budget, Blackrod Library secured a reprieve from cuts, thanks to the efforts of HBFI it was agreed that the model or offering would still need to be reviewed. “But several months have passed and we’ve had no contact and neither have Blackrod Town Council, have been approached by executives or anyone or anyone from library services to discuss the library’s future. Library services have been cut across Bolton (Image: Newsquest) “Blackrod Library is a vital community hub for young and old alike and it links in well with local groups and schools, houses and also the Town Hall Chambers of Blackrod.
“We do not want to find ourselves in the same position come the next budget, fighting cuts without reasonable engagement.” The budget set out in February agreed to cuts of around £11M and a council tax rise of up to five per cent. This included controversial measures like the dimming of streetlights and cutting back on rubbish collections.
Responding to Cllr Williamson’s question, council cabinet member for culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said this included more than £100,000 being cut from the library and museums budget. He said these cuts involved looking at alternative ways of running libraries across the borough . ALSO READ: Library hours to be cut by 70 hours across Bolton — is your branch affected? ALSO READ: Libraries to close 'under no circumstances' despite £364,000 cuts plan ALSO READ: Bolton's council tax RISE and cuts set in stone after approval Cllr Ayub said: “I must stress that none of these options would have resulted in the closure of any libraries in the borough of Bolton.
“And I think we can all agree to the huge value of libraries and the value they bring in as anchor organisations in our town centres, on our high streets and in our communities.” Cllr Ayub said he believed it was important to ensure that libraries were used as much as possible and pointed out that many had evolved into wider community spaces. But he said that the service still had “very challenging” savings targets to meet and that he would be happy to meet with interested parties.
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