A bid to send Bootle Labour’s Library closure plan back to
the drawing board has narrowly failed. In a shocking development, Conservative
councillor for Ainsdale, Terry Jones, voted with Labour to say that closing
Ainsdale Library was a sound decision.
Ainsdale, Birkdale and Churchtown Libraries are all under
threat of closure in Southport. Birkdale
Lib Dem councillor Iain Brodie Browne and four fellow councillors used a
special council procedure to 'call in' the closure decision made earlier in
October.
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| Campaigning in the winter of 2009/10 to secure Southport town centre library |
However their attempt to persuade Sefton Council’s Scrutiny
Committee to force the Bootle Labour-dominated Cabinet to reconsider was
defeated – with Ainsdale’s Tory councillor Terry Jones voting with Labour.
Cllr Brodie Browne commented: "Local residents were
quite rightly appalled at the original decision. We are particularly concerned that a number
of sensible alternatives have not been adequately worked out or costed –
options like community managed libraries and the possibility of greater use of
volunteers."
"Lib Dem councillors called this in because we have
serious doubts about the soundness of the decision taken on 11th October by the
Bootle Labour Cabinet. What is
absolutely staggering is that Ainsdale Conservative councillor Terry Jones
voted to agree that he was not concerned about the Labour decision."
Ainsdale Lib Dem councillor Haydn Preece was one of those
who signed the ‘Call-In’ and he attended Thursday’s meeting. He added: "I just don’t understand what
Terry is up to. His actions are an
absolute kick in the teeth for the thousands of Ainsdale residents who have
already mobilised to try and save our library."
