September 21, 1968

ONLY seven years after undergoing a major refit, Bury's Public Library is already running into another space crisis.

As book issues rates and demand for referencing soars the present building will soon be too small to handle the flow of readers.

Public Librarian, Mr Phillip Chadwick, said: "We envisaged the alterations carried out in 1961 would probably create enough space to see us through another 10 to 15 years, but we never thought that demand would be so great. We are now bursting at the seams."

Plans for expansion of the library in Manchester Road are included in a three-year development programme drawn up by the Art Gallery and Library Committee, however no details have yet been confirmed.

A take-over of the adjoining 74-year-old Textile Hall, which is still up for sale, is one proposed solution; but so far negotiations have stalled over the price of the Library's bid.

THE Bury to Bolton and Rochdale railway line is once again under threat of closure just two years after being saved from the axe.

British Railways' Board delivered the shock news on Monday, giving notice of its intention to discontinue all passenger services on the 12 mile stretch of line.

The plans would mean the closure of Bury's Knowsley Street Station, as well as stations at Heywood, Broadfield, Radcliffe and Bradley Fold.

This latest axing threat follows discussions between the board and the Regional Economic Planning Council which revealed the line had an unlikely future as part of the passenger network.

The line has also been running deep into debt, and three years ago it was revealed that, along with its Wigan connection, the line was losing £200,000 a year.

Vigorous protests about the closure are expected from local authorities, train users and other organisations who had saved the line when it was last threatened under the Beeching renegotiations.

TRAFFIC was faced with a road block on Tuesday morning after a lorry had strewn its load of timber across the carriageway following a collision with a delivery van.

The incident in Bolton Road happened after the lorry burst a tyre on its way into Bury, veering across the road and hitting the van carrying confectionary, travelling in the opposite direction.

Timber from the lorry's load was shot forward over the cab by the impact, blocking the road.

Neither of the drivers were hurt, however police were called to control traffic for a time.