THREE members of Warrington Borough Council’s executive board abstained from voting when the controversial plan to close two branch libraries and axe the mobile library service was approved.
They were councillors Mike Biggin, Alan Litton and Liz Smith.
But the proposal, which involves closing Grappenhall and Great Sankey libraries and ending the mobile library service on April 1, went through.
Other cutbacks were also approved, including savings on reference books, ceasing to stock periodicals and making efficiencies in supplies and services.
Cllr Biggin said there was no way he could condone any diminishing of the library service in Grappenhall.
He had been disappointed at the lack of response from Grappenhall people, however.
Out of 1,116 active users of the library, only 123 had completed consultation forms, of which 106 indicated there 
were opposed to closure of the library.
Cllr Biggin said he hoped there would be no redundancies among the library staff and would like to see proposals for the future use of the library building.
He said the parish council and the Grappenhall Youth and Community Association would be willing to have a book service at the community centre and he would like to see this possibility explored.
“I am very keen that the people of Grappenhall should not lose out,” he added.
Cllr Bob Timmis, executive member for leisure and skills said the council valued its library service and was proud that the town had been the first in the country to provide a public library paid for by the rates.
The council would make use of new technology to take the library service forward and would explore all opportunities to do so. The home library service would be extended, book exchanges would be explored and reading groups
It was hoped to increase the number of library volunteers and release vacant library buildings as community assets to be run by local people.
The public consultation had shown that residents were overwhelmingly in favour of closing the two libraries and mobile service rather than make savings by reducing opening hours at all libraries.
Pictured (from the top) Mike Biggin, Liz Smith and Alan Litton.
Three abstain as library axe falls
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
12 Comments
It’s no surprise that two of these councillors who abstained are up for re-election in May.
Why did they abstain…..they shouldn’t be allowed to. Two of the councillors are Great Sakkey and the ofther is Grappenhall.. the areas where both libraries are closing. Did they not have the guts to vote against the closure as per their constituents wishes or did they just want them closed but with no comeback on them. WHIMPS !
what will happen to the g’hall library?? was the land not covenented for education purposes only -will the council sell it off to a Day Nursery ?? more traffic problems!
Mike Biggins was right in abstaining – he has to save the council money BUT also look after his local peole -what would you do ‘dizzy’ in his role??
The reasons for my abstention were made clear. The results of the consultation were in overwhelmingly in favour of the option to close the libraries which I opposed vigourously, However to vote for the other option would have been to vote for a much diminished service across the Borough and the real possibility of staff redundancies leading to less overall provision and no chance of a refined effective service in Grappenhall. My job now is to support the creation of a modern flexible but effective library service for local people. Bear in mind, only two residents contacted me during the long consultation period and one of them was asking for clarification of future provision.
Maybe all book readers should protest at the Town Hall.
IF a large enough number of my local constituents and/or other residents who use the facilities were against the closure (for valid reasons of course and not just because they had an axe to grind with the council in general) then I would have voted againt the proposal to close it. If my constituents or other residents who use the facilities had shown no interest. concern or worries about the closure (which is will allegidely save so much money) then I would have voted in favour of the closure. Either way I would not have abstained. As for what will happen to the closed library now… maybe you should ask the counil or your local representative 🙂
So if only 2 residents contacted you and the overwhelming majority were in favour of closure ……. that would show that people were not really bothered.. so why didn’t you just vote in favour of the closure. On the other hand if like you say you opposed the closure vigourously then why didn’t you vote against closure. I’m sorry and I do appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to reply and to esplain your reasons why (and in your own name too). But all too often I/we see councillors simply chosing to abstaining from important decisions and in a vast majority of cases it is merely to save their own backs and to avoid any comeback or blame in the future. Sorry but it is true 🙁
really helpful 🙂 🙂
Sell the mayors number plate…. that would pay for the mobile library for a few years if nothing else…. remember; we are all in this together!
Re Grappenhall; 123 people completed consultation forms, of which 106 indicated they were opposed to the closure of the library. So the MAJORITY of respondents OPPOSED the closure whilst only 17 didn’t. So why did Cllr Biggins abstain (which by doing so allowed the closure?). Is it that for Cllr Biggins toeing the party line takes priority over the views of the people who elected him to represent their area?
Cllr Litton states; “The public consultation had shown that residents were overwhelmingly in favour of closing the two libraries and mobile service rather than make savings by reducing opening hours at all libraries” These residents then were from areas other than Grappenhall. Typical Lib/Con consultation techniques! and when the next couple of libraries are proposed for closure similar results will be had because those whose services are being cut will always be outnumbered by those whose services are threatened. Rather than closing all the village libraries at once, which would be opposed en-mass these techniques would enable them to be picked off a few at a time. Of the sites that couldn’t be sold off, other uses would no doubt be found,
Cllr Biggins says; “…..the parish council and the Grappenhall Youth and Community Association would be willing to have a book service at the community centre and he would like to see this possibility explored.!” ……and would this include the possibility of the running costs being taken from the funds allocated to youth services I wonder?
Why does it always appear that these councillors can’t just be upfront and honest in their intentions? But then these same councillors are the Exec members who publicly promised not to further the Walton Hall proposals and then within minutes went behind closed doors and voted to go ahead as previously planned!!!
Don’t lose any sleep over it SHA… the decision has been made and I’m sure it’s not only you who has sussed out how the system works from within. The council tax will obviously be reduced accordingly as all these savings are made and public ‘services’ reduced 🙂
Not losing any sleep over it Dizzy, as you say it’s how the system works…….. with this particular council anyway and it’s not unusual for them to work from within closed doors. Not losing any sleep about not getting a reply from Cllr Biggin either, not much he could say is there?