Council budget consultation "a joke"

4.13.00pm GMT Mon 15th Feb 2010

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Gary Long has accused the City Council's consultation on its budget proposals of being "a joke". A line that referred to a "libraries modernisation programme" turned out to be about the possible closure of two libraries.

The line states: "Modernisation of the library and information service network to reflect increasing citizen expectations and changing patterns of demand and need." When Gary asked more questions about this he found out it was about the possible closure of Wilford Library and Beechdale Road Library, which he and local residents are campaigning to save.

The future of Beechdale Library has been in doubt for some time. Residents gathered 2,000 signatures on a petition to persuade the Council to keep it open.

Gary said "As a consultation it is a joke". He added "There is no way anyone could guess that this threatened the closure of two libraries."

Lib Dem parliamentary campaigner Tony Sutton said "How many more nasty surprises are there in the budget waiting to jump out on us? The Council say they want genuine responses, but how can people let the Council know what they think if they don't know what the Council are planning to do?"

The Liberal Democrats are putting forward a budget amendment against the closure of Beechdale Road Library. Gary said "The Library is a small, but well used local resource. I, along with Tony and the rest of the Liberal Democrat Group, will fight to keep it open."