“No books to borrow south of the Mersey” – MP’s warning

MP David Mowat has expressed concern that the whole of Warrington south of the Mersey could be left without anywhere to browse or borrow books if library closure plans go ahead.
Stockton Heath and Lymm libraries are the best used in the borough, he says – suggesting that these are the areas where demand for library services is highest.
The Warrington South MP gives a cautious welcome to proposals to “cluster” libraries with other well used services.
But he is concerned about the timetable for the opening of new services which, he believes, could lead to a situation where there was no location south of the Mersey where residents could physically browse and borrow books.
Mr Mowat said Lymm would be particularly badly affected by the proposed changes to the library service because the nearest “hub” where books would be available would be five miles away, with no direct bus route.
He said: “It is unclear from the consultation document whether the new Hub at Broomfields would have opened before the existing facilities in Lymm and Stockton Heath had closed.
“If there were to be a gap, it would mean that there would be no facility south of the River Mersey where residents could physically browse and borrow books.
“The fact that Stockton Heath and Lymm Libraries are amongst the best-used in the borough suggests that this is the area where demand for library services are highest.
“In the case of Lymm, this is the largest such dislocation in the town and five miles seems a considerable distance in the context of a relatively compact urban borough like Warrington.”
LiveWire has extended the consultation until Friday October 21 to allow more time for people to comment.
They have also stressed that no final decision has yet been made.
Anyone wishing to see and comment on what has been proposed can do so at livewirewarrington.co.uk/library