It has been precisely two months since we first reported on the unverified reports of a future without Bollington Library, and at the weekend a peaceful protest was held on the site's uncertain fate.

Dozens of children brought along their parents, grandparents and guardians to assemble outside Bollington Library on Saturday 6th July to make their views known about the potential closure of the library in January next year by Cheshire East Council.

Most brought drawings of the library and held up placards demanding that the Library remains open. After the group photograph was taken, the children enthusiastically flooded into the already busy library to emerge later with armfuls of books.

Sarah Mazzei-Scaglione from Daisy Bank nursery school said "it is vital for their future learning that younger as well as older children benefit from regular visits to their local library because it helps them develop those literacy skills which are so critical in later life".

Bollington Library is located at Palmerston Street, Bollington, Macclesfield SK10 5JX.

Siobhan Alexander, a parent organiser, said "Bollington Library plays a big role in the lives of these children, which why they are here in such large numbers. Cheshire East councillors should not be even considering closing libraries or slashing their hours".

Sandra Edwards, Vice Chair of the Friends of Bollington Library, said that the Friends group was encouraging parents and other residents to attend the meeting of Cheshire East's Environment and Communities Committee on Thursday July 18 at 10am at Macclesfield Town Hall which could decide what proposals would be out to public consultation in August.

Cheshire East Council has been contacted for comment.

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.

The rumoured closure follows the reduction of opening hours implemented late last year.

"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.

"Next week, 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 council's 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 in August 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." 

Bollingtn Library is open five days a week.

The Friends of Bollington Library is an independent body which aims to engage with the Bollington community at large to encourage awareness and use of Bollington Library through events, activities and publicity.

Nigel Macartney, of Friends of Bollington Library, told the LDRS today (Monday): "We expect Cheshire East Council's environment and communities committee to publish on the website on Thursday of this week their proposals for consulting on what's going to happen with the libraries.

"On July 18 that committee will meet in Macclesfield Town Hall, and we will certainly have large numbers from Bollington there and hopefully we'll be allowed to speak."

He added: "We don't officially know what it's in the paper, we'll find out on Thursday, but we are hopeful Cheshire East is retreating from the draconian closures of a quarter of the libraries to something where we can perhaps have a dialogue with them about achieving something more acceptable."

Friends of Bollington Library Group claim that Cheshire East Council is planning to consult the public on proposals to close Bollington Library with effect from January 1 2025.

The meeting of the environment and communities committee takes place on Thursday, July 18, at 10am at Macclesfield Town Hall.

Members of the public can find out more on the Friends of Bollington Library Facebook page.