News / Politics
Labour want pause in Library closure review
A review which has earmarked seven libraries for closure should be halted, say Labour councillors.
The group said the “rushed” consultation had failed to include people who don’t use the internet and some library staff.
They also called on the council to make more effort to redesign services and modernise libraries to attract more users.
“Right from the start announcing a list of libraries earmarked for closure was a major mistake and this should be ripped up,” said Estella Tincknell, deputy leader of the party in Bristol.
“But this is not enough. Libraries must keep evolving to respond to changes in demand, and to offer new kinds of services,” she sadded.
She said more should be done to consult people who currently don’t use the library, to encourage them in.
“We need to engage with these people and provide what matches their needs. That’s how we make a library service that is fit for the future not the past,” she said.
City mayor George Ferguson already decided to extend the consultation by a month in March following widespread opposition to the closures.
Libraries in Clifton, Eastville, Bedminster, Redland, Sea Mills, Westbury-on-Trym and Brislington have all been listed for possible closure.
The possible closures have been put forward in a bid to save £1.1m. Some 40 full-time equivalent jobs would be lost if the closures went ahead.
Bristol City Council said its consultation, which ended at the beginning of July, has reached more than 4,500 people.
Councillors on the scrutiny commission will examine the poroposals on July 1, before a final decision is made at a cabinet meeting on August 4.