LCC's Labour Administration has been condemned for waiting until 8pm on Friday before a Bank Holiday to release a 1468 page report that sets out which local libraries and children's centres are to close later this year. The Labour Cabinet is set to ratify the proposals this Thursday. The Policy decision was taken last February at the Budget Meeting of the Full Council when the minority Labour Administration, with the support of the Independents and LibDems, forced through the measure despite the determined opposition of the Conservative Group.
The Conservatives have pledged to re-open the Libraries closed by Labour if they are successful Election next May and regain control of the County Council.
County Councillor David Westley, said: "The release of this Report while the County Council is in recess, during the school holidays and at the start of the Bank Holiday cannot be just an unfortunate set of coincidences. It clearly smacks of a deliberate attempt to lessen the impact of the proposals and avoid local newspaper deadlines.
At the Full Council Meeting in February, the Conservatives put forward a strategy that would have kept every library in Lancashire open but this was voted down by Labour and their allies in the minor parties. Some Labour County Councillors are crying crocodile tears but residents should not forget that our local Labour County Councillors John Fillis, Cynthia Dereli, and Nikki Hennessey all voted for the closures.
The loss of the Libraries in Parbold, Burscough and Upholland will have a major impact on the local communities and is an act of political vandalism. The Conservative County Councillors have pledged that they will re-open all the Libraries closed by Labour if they are successful in regaining control at the County Council Election in May 2017.
Ormskirk Library will not escape unscathed as under Labour's proposals the LCC staff, displaced from the closure of the Moorgate Children's Centre, are to operate from the Library building. Given the absence of any spare space in the Library this must have a major impact on the range and quality of services currently on offer."