NOW that the closure of 10 of Bury’s 14 libraries has been approved by Bury Council in order to save £1.4 million a year, the question remains as to what are the council’s plans with regards to those 10 precious community assets.

Judging by the lack of clear answers to the many questions raised by members of Friends of Tottington Library, the Seedfield Tenants and Residents’ Association and members of Save Dumers Lane Community Centre & Library, at last week's cabinet meeting, there is no plan.

Bury Greens have estimated that 13,300 library users will be affected by the closures.

Yes, some users living near a bus stop might be able to access one of the four remaining libraries within 30 minutes, as required by the 1964 Public Libraries and Museum Act, but that is missing the point.

It cannot be right that the council is steaming ahead with the closure of what are in effect community centres as well as libraries within three months.

These 10 buildings have been paid for by local tax payers and play a vital role as community places. More time is required to consider all options.

The council should first publish a detailed and viable plan to be considered by community groups and volunteers who have so far come forward — more may still do — to try and save their community centres before any action is taken to close them down, mothball them, demolish them or sell them off to the highest bidder or indeed put them to use for a different purpose.

For this to be done constructively, more time has to be given to the council’s staff from the resources and regulations department to draft such plans for proper consideration by library users, community groups and volunteers.

Three months is neither realistic, nor fair.

As requested by Conservative leader Cllr James Daly and Lib Dem Cllr Tim Pickstone at cabinet, the three-month period of community engagement and negotiation has to be extended well beyond October.

Since Bury Council for Voluntary Service was abruptly abolished over 10 years ago, what the Council must now provide, as part of its support package to community groups and volunteers, is access to expertise in community capacity building, support in drawing up business plans and submitting funding applications.

To expect library users, community groups and volunteers — who may not even be aware of the closure of their libraries — to come up with a fully fledged “business plan” with no details as to what is meant by “ cost neutrality “ is totally unacceptable.

The council may be forced to press on with an unsustainable level of cuts (40 per cent) by a Conservative government hell-bent on carrying on with its failed austerity measures, but it must never be allowed to forget its own Statement of Community Engagement, nor abdicate its responsibilities towards tax-payers and our communities.

There must be a third option.

Nicole Haydock

Bury Green Party candidate for Radcliffe East