A campaign group has responded to Cheshire East plans to consult on some libraries becoming privatised and seeing a reduction.

Friends of Bollington Library (FOBL) is a voluntary group trying to keep Bollington Liberty open.

Cheshire East Council has dismissed fears it plans to close the libraries at Bollington and three other local towns, but they have confirmed they will consult on reducing hours those four sites with staff to just one and a half days a week.

The current Bollington Library opening hours.

The hours of operation would be determined by a new tier system, with Bollington Library being in lowest category, which would transfer the Palmerston Street library into a community one.

The reduction of services at Bollington, would also beef up services elsewhere such as Macclesfield Library.

FOBL campaigners fighting to save Bollington Library will turn out at a Cheshire East meeting in Macclesfield this week to oppose the council's plans to slash the opening hours to one and a half days a week. And ahead of such meeting, they have been speaking with Macclesfield Nub News.

Bollington Library, of Palmerston Street.

Having already started a petition, and held gatherings, it was only a matter of time before FOBL commented on the potential plans.

FOBL said in a statement: "Cheshire East Council has at last gone public with its plans to cut the Library Service, two-and-a-half months after the proposals were leaked."

"The plans going to Thursday's Environment and Communities Committee meeting propose a public consultation to be launched in August centred on a 'Libraries Strategy', and on reducing the opening hours of four libraries in the north of the Borough – Alderley Edge, Bollington, Disley and Handforth – to one-and-a-half days per week. 

The consultation is likely to launch in August.

"The Committee paper also proposes consultation on 'alternative service delivery' for all libraries 'via the private sector'. 

"It notes that 'a series of other options' will need to be considered as there are not enough savings being achieved in the Library Service's budget. 

"These may include cuts to opening hours and services at a further six libraries, reductions in expenditure on books and part or complete closure of the mobile library service."

Friends of Bollington Library.

Cheshire East currently operate 16 libraries in the borough, and a mobile library service.

The upcoming Cheshire East Environment and Communities Committee paper can be seen HERE.

In it, Cheshire East Council state "The Council is not proposing any library closures, but to ensure ongoing affordability of services across the borough, this proposal would reduce current opening hours of libraries during the week only and reduce the funding for purchase of new books and newspapers."

The Library is open five days a week. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

"Aligned to this and as part of the review seek options to co-locate library sites into other facilities and at the same time move forward with opportunities for additional income generation based within these sites. Proposals would consider options to work with Town and Parish Councils to mitigate impacts where viable."

Friends of Bollington Library has 420 members on their Facebook group, and recently held a peaceful protest with children.

The Chair of Friends of Bollington Library, Sandy Milsom said "We are all completely shocked at the sheer savagery of these cuts, whether proposed for public consultation in August or suggested for a further round of reductions in the future; the Library Service will be devastated and cannot operate like this." 

Cheshire East Council HQ, Westfields, Sandbach. (Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

Jose Spinks, Secretary of the Friends group added: "This so-called 'Libraries Strategy' is no such thing, merely a list of cuts. The Committee next Thursday should send back these proposals as utterly contradictory, unjust and unacceptable".

Friends of Bollington Library said in a further statement: "The Friends' Committee is encouraging its members and supporters to go the Environment and Communities Committee meeting at Macclesfield Town Hall on Thursday 18th July at 10 am to make their views heard."

"It will again be contacting the councillors involved in considering CEC's muddled proposals for consultation so as to emphasise the strength of public opinion in support of Bollington Library, expressed across all ages of our community. 

Disley, Handforth and Alderley Edge Library would also be downgranded in the same fashion as Bollington, if plans proceed.

"The Friends' Committee will also support the Bollington Town Council in any future negotiations with Cheshire East Council which seek to maintain the town Library's opening hours." 

Speaking in May, Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee, said: "The council's adopted medium-term financial strategy (MTFS) for 2024 to 2028 sets out proposals for how the council will balance its budget for the next four years.

"This includes proposals to ensure the ongoing affordability of providing a broad range of library services across Cheshire East, while also making the necessary savings the council must deliver to protect essential services and continue to support those who need help the most.

"The environment and communities committee will consider a report which seeks approval to launch a public consultation on a number of options for library services, including how some of the councils' smaller libraries can be operated in a different way.

"No final decisions have yet been made.

"Subject to approval by committee, we expect to launch the consultation and will be encouraging people to have their say through this, as well as engaging with community organisations and town and parish councils to explore opportunities for working in partnership to support library services in their local areas."

For more information about Thursday morning's Cheshire East Council meeting, please click HERE.