BURY Council’s cabinet, as predicted in the Bury Times, has chosen one of its own two options to retain four central libraries and close 10 community libraries across the Borough.

This public exercise was no genuine consultation with the public of Bury; it was a done deal and in my book a miscarriage of justice.

An Option 3 was presented back in January by Seedfield Tenants and Residents Association putting forward the case to save those libraries enabling valuable community groups and activities to function.

At the last meeting, the cabinet still did not receive and accept Option 3 to seriously look at and give the full council of members the opportunity to consider and vote on, even though suggestions are made that would make option 3 ‘cost neutral’, by the council taking its share of the hit of economic austerity by reducing the number of councillors and local elections.

The amount saved by that, so I am told about £600,000 over four years, would keep the community- serving libraries open.

The continuance of community libraries also brings a saving on social care costs as loneliness and isolation is reduced, improving individual health and wellbeing and, in the case of Topping Fold, supporting young people develop skills and securing jobs instead of being out on the streets. Isn’t that a very good thing?

To show the empty commitment of the council’s cabinet to the life of our communities, Cllr Rishi Shori stated at the meeting that the council could look at the interesting proposal (in Option 3) to look at the elections cycle and councillors per ward, but the council would not ring-fence the money saved for community libraries!

Councillors have been remarkably silent on options other than the council’s own, and one wonders is there is a form of three-line whip in operation?

Our elected representatives should be doing everything they can to support their local people and communities, instead of letting them down.

Tim J Boaden

Seedfield Road

Bury