Library funding row
9:00am Wednesday 31st August 2011 in News
A ROW over library funding has broken out between Bolton’s two main political parties.
Proposals to save £200,000 from area forum budgets, put forward by Tory leader Cllr John Walsh, will be discussed at a full council meeting tonight.
Cllr Walsh believes current area forum budgets are unfair, with more money going to deprived wards. He wants to cut money from these and use it to fund the town’s under-threat libraries.
But Labour leader Cllr Cliff Morris said: “I can’t believe the bare faced cheek of Cllr Walsh. His government has slashed millions of pounds from grants the council received that were specifically aimed at reducing crime, improving youth services, the environment and health in our most deprived areas.
“Although we lost all this money, the council found extra savings elsewhere to continue this vital work.”
Five libraries are under threat of closure — Astley Bridge, Highfield, Oxford Grove, Heaton and Castle Hill. The council wants to replace them with neighbourhood collection points.
