‘Devastating’ Lancashire library closures to be investigated

Following complaints from local MPs, the government has said that it will look into the closure of more than 20 libraries in Lancashire.

Blaming the closures on cuts, Lancashire county council confirmed in August that it was set to shut more than 20 local libraries in a bid to save £200 million, leading to two local Conservative MPs voicing their concerns to the the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley and Libraries Minister Rob Wilson have confirmed that the department will investigate the situation.

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, one of the MPs, Ben Wallace, MP for Wyre and Preston North, raised a formal complaint against the council, saying that it has broken its requirement to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ service under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.

The other MP, Paul Maynard, MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, said the government should investigate the level of local need, as required under the Act.

In September, Maynard wrote to Matt Hancock, Minister for Digital and Culture, outlining his belief that Lancashire council’s library closures were being undertaken ‘without even considering the alternative avenues that could be open to them’.

He said: “Obviously this is a first step and it’s important to recognise they are looking into the process of how things have been done. One of my concerns was that the outcome of the consultation was announced so quickly that I don’t believe they had sufficient time to properly examine the evidence gathered, so was it genuine or not?”

A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “Local authorities have a statutory duty to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service. We have received representations about the proposed library changes by Lancashire County Council, which we are treating as an official complaint.”