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Libraries handed over to volunteers
MORE than half of Doncaster’s libraries will no longer be managed by the council under controversial cost-cutting plans agreed yesterday.
The authority has decided to close two of the town’s 26 libraries from the beginning of next month and hand over 12 more branches to be run by community groups, in a shake-up that will save £1.2m a year.
A spokesman for the Save Doncaster Libraries campaign group said Doncaster Council had “failed the people of Doncaster in their shambolic approach to changes to the library service.”
They added: “The Mayor has flatly refused to listen to solutions offered by the Labour group and has failed to investigate alternative methods of keeping libraries open. Instead, he has jumped at the massively problematic volunteer method.
“These decisions are a disgrace to our town, undermine any supposed mayoral priorities to improve standards of education and living, and yet again make a mockery of Doncaster and its undemocratic, dysfunctional council.”
Members of the Labour group – which holds by far the most seats on Doncaster Council yet has no seats on its Cabinet due to the elected mayor model – were not allowed to speak at yesterday’s meeting.
Group leader Coun Sandra Holland said: “The Mayor would not allow me to speak because he knows that the people of Doncaster don’t agree with him – the public and Labour want to see libraries stay open, staffed with real librarians.”
Peter Davies, the Mayor of Doncaster, said there had been “ample” time for councillors to offer alternative solutions.
He said: “I do not pretend that this is an ideal situation. However, we are living in the real world where political decisions have to be taken and we need real solutions when it comes to saving money.”
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Penske666
Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 04:04 PMDavies is a disgrace to Doncaster and should be got rid off. Doncaster will be a laughing stock when these libraries fail.
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