Anti-cuts campaign started over Leominster library
A campaign against cuts is growing as yet another town's library services have come under threat.
Leominster is the latest library in the region to face closure under a fresh round of cuts proposed by Herefordshire Council
The town may lose its library at The Buttercross, with outreach services in nearby villages also possibly downgraded – but supporters say they will fight any such move.
North of the border, in south Shropshire, there have been similar fears over the future of town libraries as Shropshire Council looks to hand over the running to community organisations in a bid to save £1.3 million from its libraries budget.
Among Herefordshire Council's "income and savings" proposals is listed "reduce customer services and libraries across the county".
The document says: "The council could close some of its existing sites and make more customer services available online.
"There could also be the opportunity to further share sites and in turn costs.
"We could also extend community involvement to retain libraries in local areas."
A consultation day on the proposals is being held in the Corn Square in Leominster on September 18, from 10am to 2pm, for residents to make their feelings known.
Sue Lindsay, treasurer of Friends of Leominster Library, said a petition had already been started against any cuts. She said: "We've got a big campaign going on in Leominster. We've had a stall in the market today and we will be having another one on September 18, right opposite the council's consultation.
"We want to get the council's consultation questionnaire into the hands of as many people as possible to fill it in so that they (Herefordshire Council members) are inundated."
