Petition to save Library submitted

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT Councillors have handed in a petition-signed by hundreds of residents-calling on the County Council to withdraw their planned changes to Barwell Library.

Proposed changes would see the County Council no longer fund the library and it be staffed by volunteers rather than professional librarians.

Councillor Mathew Hulbert, who represents Barwell, and Councillor Michael Mullaney, who is the Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman for Hinckley and Bosworth, took the signatures to County Hall.

They were filmed doing so by cameras from the BBC's Sunday Politics and the story was featured on this week's edition of the programme in the East Midlands.

Councillor Hulbert says, 'We feel that the Tory-run County Council daren't say they want to close the library and so are doing this half-way house thing of saying it must be run by volunteers, but if they can't be found then ultimately it amounts to the same thing.'

'We-and the hundreds of people who've signed our petition-say we want our much used and much loved library to remain funded by the County Council and staffed by professional librarians.

'The Library is an essential resource and facility; for young patents, for children, for senior citizens, for people looking for work and many others.

The County Council must listen and withdraw these planned changes.'

Councillor Michael Mullaney says, 'I hope Leicestershire County Council will listen to the residents who have signed the petition.

"Not only Barwell, but also Desford, Newbold Vernon, Burbage and other libraries in Hinckley and Bosworth could be shut if volunteers aren't found to run them.

"Libraries are a vital local service and I hope the County Council will ensure they are kept open if volunteers can't be found to run them.'