THE woman with the fate of 11 Wirral libraries in her hands has conducted a two-day tour of the sites.

Sue Charteris met library users and staff as she assesses whether Wirral Council’s controversial plans to close libraries across the borough should be allowed to continue.

The former London borough chief executive was appointed by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham following the furore surrounding the authority’s plans.

She spent two days touring the libraries under threat from the Strategic Asset Review (SAR) announced last year.

The council has pressed ahead with parts of the SAR – including beginning the marketing of the former town hall at Birkenhead’s historic Hamilton Square.

The library closure programme had been expected to see libraries shut from the start of April, but was suspended when the Secretary of State announced the inquiry a day before the first closures were due.

The aim of the inquiry is to gather further information to help the Secretary of State decide whether the council’s plans are consistent with their statutory duty to provide a “comprehensive and efficient” library service.

Ms Charteris declined to comment publicly following her meetings with residents, simply saying the response from people had been “fantastic” as she left Seacombe Library.

Cllr Leah Fraser had been at the library to “ensure staff could also speak freely to the inspector”, and said she believed it had been a productive visit.