Libraries ‘soft target’ for council cuts

THE chairman of a support group for a library under threat of closure has slammed Wakefield Council chiefs for hitting a “soft target.”

By The Newsroom

Published 20th Jul 2012, 07:00 BST

Wakefield Council is seeking to save £800,000 a year by off-loading 12 libraries to voluntary organisations in the biggest shake-up of the service for 30 years.

The dozen libraries will close before March 2013 unless viable alternatives for running them are lodged with the council by October 31 this year.

Outwood Library is one of the 12 set to be axed.

Karl Grubb, chairman of Supporters of Outwood Library, said his group is seeking an alternative building as Outwood Library is currently housed in a portable building. He added: “Libraries are a soft target. We need a purpose built new building and we have not got the funds to do that. But we haven’t given up he fight and we are still trying to find an alternative building for the library.”

Council chiefs say groups can apply for a share of £100,000 to help with rescue plans.