Green Party members were among the demonstrators opposing the closure of Sefton Park library at the weekend, one of eleven community libraries that are threatened with closure by the City Council. Following the publication of the proposals by the Labour dominated Council, the Green Party pledged to campaign to retain library services at as many of the present sites as finances would allow.
Green Councillor Lawrence Brown made the position clear: “We fully understand and recognise that the City Council is under critical financial pressures; a situation largely caused by the Conservative/Liberal Democrat Government which has savagely cut Liverpool’s funding over the past four years. We recognise too that the library service has to take a share of the efficiency savings if all other services that the City Council operate or support are to continue effectively.”
But the possible loss of 11 community libraries is simply too much to bear and we are calling on the Council to divert what discretionary funds it has to the library service to keep buildings open.
The closures would affect many of the deprived communities throughout the city, particularly those people such as the elderly and disabled who would struggle to get to other libraries some distance from where they live.’
The Green Party will shortly deliver a petition to the City Council which will show, along with a petition compiled by the organisation Liverpool Against the Cuts, the strength of feeling against library closures.
If you can help with the campaign, please get in touch with us through the website.