WIRRAL MP Stephen Hesford has called on the local government ombudsman to declare the planned closure of 11 libraries across the borough unlawful.
The Wirral West Labour MP travelled to York on Friday to personally deliver his 103 page analysis of the plans, branding them “maladministered and inadequate”, “unfair and inequitable” and “wrongly budget-led”.
Addressing dozens of residents outside Hoylake Library, Mr Hesford condemned the plans contained in Wirral Council’s Strategic Asset Review (SAR).
“This is a budget-led process.
“They thought of a sum of money they wanted to save and then went and looked for libraries, never thinking about what services are needed.”
In his report, the Labour MP attacks the entire process, calling it “an excessive response to what began life as a reasonably sedate review of buildings”.
He claims the SAR was “undoubtedly linked” to keeping council tax below 4%, thus making it unlawful, and that it “was and remains deeply unpopular with all sections of the community, in all areas of Wirral”.
Mr Hesford also criticises the consultation process, saying it “was, and was meant to be, unresponsive” and states that “libraries cannot close because of simple financial expediency”.
In his report, the Labour MP writes: “You only have to reflect that no other local authority has ever attempted to undertake such an exercise to realise that this is almost certainly because it is not necessary, nor is it a good idea.”
He adds: “The SAR arbitrarily excluded static single-function libraries, such as Hoylake, from future provision.
“This occurred so as to allow what looked like pre-determined revenue savings to be made.”
Speaking before setting off to York, Mr Hesford said: “The ombudsman can look at the process and see whether it was fair and transparent, and I’m arguing in the report that it was not.
“She can look at the consultation process to see whether that was adequate and in the report, I argue, strongly, that it wasn’t.”
It is hoped the ombudsman could even make an initial ruling as early as this week.
Corina Thompson lives in Hoylake and has protested against closure plans since they were revealed. She said: “I think this is needed because the council simply aren’t listening to anybody.
“We’ve all been along to the council meetings and they had clearly made up their minds a long time ago.
“We needed somebody to take it further.”
Mr Hesford will also raise the case of two other facilities facing the axe, Irby and Woodchurch libraries.
If the ombudsman agrees, Mr Hesford will ask her to demand new plans are drawn up and any closures are suspended for two years.
A spokesman for Wirral Council said: “It is the right of any citizen to take any matter of concern to their local government ombudsman.
“We do not have the details of the complaint, so cannot comment further.”
