Council will pay £3,000 to keep Dawley library hours

Parish councillors in Dawley have agreed to stump up more than £3,000 to ensure the town's library does not have its hours slashed.

Cash-strapped Telford & Wrekin Council could axe opening hours at seven libraries in the borough as it attempts to save £40 million. The reduced opening times would save the council £330,000.

The libraries which could see reduced hours are in Telford town centre, Oakengates, Newport, Hadley, Stirchley, Donnington and Dawley.

Under the borough council's proposals, Wellington and Madeley libraries would see their hours slightly increased.

Now Great Dawley Parish Council has said it will stump up £3,200 to the borough council in a bid to keep Dawley Library open for a 21-hour week instead of the 16 hours being proposed.

Councillor Brian Duce, chairman of Great Dawley Parish Council, said the authority had put cash aside to safeguard its hours.

"I understand the massive financial pressures the borough council is under and the measures it must make to save money," he said.

"Labour run Dawley Parish Council is ready to step forward and work cooperatively with the borough council to safeguard library hours until it is transferred into the new Phoenix School site.

"What is clear is parish and town councils across the town will need to make decisions with its resources to come to the aid of the communities they serve where the borough council is forced to make cuts because of the front loaded cuts imposed by the Government."

The parish council is expected to pay the £3,200 for two years until the library re-opens at the new Phoenix School, which is currently being built.