A RAMSBOTTOM councillor has asked for reassurance that the local library will not close.

Cllr Ian Bevan asked a question at the Bury Council meeting on Wednesday over the future of the centre following the announcement of the library service review.

Speaking at the meeting at Bury Town Hall, he said: “In view of the fact that there were 70,750 visits to Ramsbottom Library in the 12 months from April,2015, can the leader of the council assure my constituents that Ramsbottom Library and Heritage Centre will not close as a result of the library review?”

The council is currently consulting on the service that the libraries across the borough provide.

In a response to the question Cllr Sandra Walmsley, cabinet member for strategic housing and support services, could not give explicit reassurance that it would not close. But she did say that a decision had not yet been reached.

Answering the question, she said: “As you are aware, we are currently seeking the views of the public on six key principles that could be used to provide the framework for a full review of Bury’s Library Service.

“The council is committed to retaining a high-quality library service, but must also find ways of delivering the savings required by the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

“We need to develop a resilient library service which will take us forward, build on our existing strengths and allow us to plan to meet areas of developing need.”

She added: “The library service review is not simply about saving money; it is about making a relevant library service that supports the people of Bury.

“We encourage all of Bury’s residents to complete a survey to have their say on their library service.

“No decisions have been made at this stage; this is only the first part of the consultation.”

A second consultation will start in November before any changes are implemented around July next year.

A petition has been set up to Keep Ramsbottom Library Safe and can be found on Facebook in the group of the same name.

l The consultation document can be viewed in all of the borough’s libraries and online on Bury Council website. Please visit: bury.gov.uk