Anger over Library decision

6.29.32pm GMT Thu 12th Nov 2009

Sefton Council's ruling Cabinet has thrown out throw a proposal to relocate Southport's town centre library to the currently vacant space at the rear of Southport Market Hall during the 3 years of work on the Arts Centre and Library buildings.

The decision of the Labour and Conservative majority on the Cabinet has been condemned as "disastrous" by Liberal Democrats on the Council.

Despite being the largest party on Sefton Council the Liberal Democrats were outvoted by 6 (3 Tory/3 lab)to 4 at Thursday's (12th November) held at Bootle Town Hall.

Work on the £15 million Southport Cultural Centre project means that Southport's town centre library will close for 3 years while vital refurbishment work is carried out on the Arts Centre and Library complex.

Lib Dem Councillor Brodie Browne condemned the decision of the two other parties.

"This is bad news for the library users of Southport and bad news for the market traders," he said

"Having looked at all the potential site in Southport's town centre, it was clear to us that the only sensible option was to use vacant space towards the rear of Southport's Market Hall."

"As reported in the Visiter in recent weeks (e.g. Southport Visiter of Friday 30th October) there was widespread support for our preferred option. With the prospect of an extra *150,000 visits a year to 'Southport's library within a market' it is hardly surprising that market traders have welcomed the idea wholeheartedly."

"The decision of the Labour/Conservative majority on the Cabinet is disastrous for the people of Southport."