SENIOR councillors have voted through plans to axe a number of libraries as part of a "modernisation strategy".

The Labour cabinet agreed on a report's recommendations to shut libraries in: Garswood, Rainhill, Rainford and Parr as part of its five-year plan.

They will close at the end of January 2024, although the council says "positive talks continue with some groups interested in a community-managed approach".

However, they will no longer be council-maintained. 

Community anger

There is considerable anger in some of the communities affected by the decision, particularly in Rainhill and Rainford, residents have told the Star. 

The council says it continues to have to deal with severe funding cuts from central government.

A decision to officially end Peter Street and Billinge as designated libraries has also been taken, although they have already been closed for some time due to expiry of building lease and structural issues, respectively.

St Helens Library - based in the World of Glass Museum - will remain open, along with Newton-le-Willows, Chester Lane, Haydock, Eccleston, Moss Bank and Thatto Heath.

This will leave the borough with seven operational libraries, which the council said in its announcement is "still more than some neighbouring borough areas".   

Council statement

In a statement the council said: "At a cabinet meeting at St Helens Town Hall this afternoon, senior councillors approved the St Helens Borough Library Strategy 2023–2028 which sets out plans to increase library membership, reach new individuals and communities, as well as tackle inequalities - while delivering more efficiently to address severe budget pressures on the local authority which has had funding from Central Government slashed from £127m in 2010 to just £11m this year."

The council continued: "Put together using feedback from a recent consultation which received nearly 6,000 responses, the strategy has been tailored to be as accessible as possible to meet the needs of residents, with a review of opening hours to focus on days and times most popular with communities; good public transport links to libraries; support for those that are digitally excluded - and a commitment to return St Helens Library to The Gamble Building, once internal refurbishment works are completed. 

"Recognising that everyday library based activities can be achieved without a building-focused service, the current library system will change to a network of seven, focusing instead on providing resources in areas of greatest need, with outreach work such as pop-up libraries; schools library service; home delivery; the reintroduction of click and collect and a big push on digital platforms among the key aspects to improve the service in the future."  

The council says that due to current staffing levels in the library service, no redundancies are expected to come as a result of this decision, although it is understood a number of posts have not been replaced in recent times.

Savings

The council added: "It is anticipated that the new-look St Helens Library Service will achieve savings of £338,000 a year – a significant amount as the council tightens its belt in response to year-on-year government funding reductions, while dealing with an increase in demand in adult's and children's social care."  

The council says it will continue to invest in the assets it still has, with Haydock Library set to undergo a £275,000 refurbishment from external funding to become the borough’s first SEND specialist library next year.

A full report by the Star of the cabinet meeting will follow. 

If you want to send a letter about the library closures for the Star's Opinion pages email andrew.kilmurray@newsquest.co.uk