PRESCOT Library is among locations in Knowsley that struggling residents of the borough can go to keep warm this winter.

Earlier this month, Knowsley Council announced it would be implementing a number of ‘warm hubs’ across the borough to help residents concerned over rising energy costs.

As part of this support, the council will be opening the doors of all of its libraries for six days a week from November 1.

The council operates five libraries in the borough and the new opening times will run from 10am to 5pm Monday to  Friday and from 10am to 1pm on Saturday.

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The locations of Knowsley libraries open to anyone who wants to come in, keep warm and make use of free wifi and other facilities, are:

Prescot Library in the Prescot Centre on Aspinall Street; Halewood Library on Rosheath Drive; Huyton Library on Civic Way; and Stockbridge Library at the Withens.

Community groups in the borough are also being asked to get in touch if they are able to offer a warm hub service with a Winter Wellness Grant being made available for organisations taking part.  Applications for that grant will open next week, with more information due soon on the council’s website.

Knowsley Council’s cabinet member for resources, Cllr Jayne Aston said: “In the absence of central Government support, we are doing all that we can to ensure that our residents have the right support at the right time.

“Heating homes is one of the biggest expenses we have at this time of year so we are ensuring our residents have somewhere warm and safe that they can go if they are concerned about the rising energy costs.

“We have five libraries across the borough which will be open six days a week from 1 November.

“We will be extending our opening hours for all five libraries from next month, ensuring our residents can access warm spaces, which also includes free access to PCs and WiFi.

“In addition, we are working with a range of community groups across the borough to support them to open their facilities for longer, offering even more venues across the borough where residents can be safe and warm.

“We will continue to listen to our residents and target our support where it is needed the most to support them through the cold winter months and the cost of living crisis.”