Children protest against closure of 'vital' Cheshire libraries

Campaigners fighting proposals to close Bollington Library will be turning out in force to protest at a Cheshire East meeting next week – just days after local children demonstrated their opposition.

Dozens of children, together with family members, turned up at the library on Saturday to make their views known about its potential closure. Most brought drawings of the library and held up placards demanding it remains open.

It is understood that four libraries – Bollington, Alderley Edge, Disley and Handforth – are all under threat of closure.

READ MORE: Campaign group aims for ‘maximum embarrassment’ over proposed tip closures after White Nancy stunt

READ: Nantwich nightclub Nakatcha closes down with "immediate effect" after 18 years in town

Cheshire East Council has refused to confirm or deny it will be consulting on the possible closure proposals during the summer.

Sarah Mazzei-Scaglione, from Daisy Bank Nursery School, said: “It is vital for their future learning that younger as well as older children benefit from regular visits to their local library because it helps them develop those literacy skills which are so critical in later life.”

Siobhan Alexander, a parent organiser, said “Bollington Library plays a big role in the lives of these children, which is why they are here in such large numbers.

“Cheshire East councillors should not be even considering closing libraries or slashing their hours.”

Nigel Macartney, of Friends of Bollington Library, told the LDRS today (Monday): “We expect Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee to publish on the website on Thursday of this week their proposals for consulting on what’s going to happen with the libraries.

“On July 18 that committee will meet in Macclesfield Town Hall, and we will certainly have large numbers from Bollington there and hopefully we’ll be allowed to speak.”

He added: “We don’t officially know what it’s in the paper, we’ll find out on Thursday, but we are hopeful Cheshire East is retreating from the draconian closures of a quarter of the libraries to something where we can perhaps have a dialogue with them about achieving something more acceptable.”

The meeting of the environment and communities committee takes place on Thursday, July 18, at 10am at Macclesfield Town Hall.

NEWSLETTER: Sign up for CheshireLive email direct to your inbox here