THE leader of Bolton Council has reiterated that no decisions have been made about the future of the town’s libraries.

It comes after Town Hall bosses spoke out to insist the fate of nine facilities is not “a fait accompli”.

A review of the library service is under way in a bid to save up to £500,000 as part of a need to claw back £60 million over the next two years.

Central Library and those in Farnworth, Westhoughton, Horwich, Blackrod and Little Lever are all safe.

But Astley Bridge, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Castle Hill in Tonge Moor, Harwood, Heaton, High Street in Daubhill, Highfield (Orchards), Farnworth and Oxford Grove face closure.

Cllr Cliff Morris, tackled over the issue at Halliwell area forum on Saturday, said: “Nobody has said we are closing these nine libraries, we are reviewing the service. No decisions have been made and there will be more consultation before we finally decide. We need to save money on libraries, we have £60 million to find.”

A consultation has been held and recommendations from the review will go to the council’s executive on July 28. There will then be more consultation before a final decision.

Thousands of people have been campaigning to save their libraries.