CONTROVERSIAL plans to close 11 libraries were defended by Wirral council on the second and final day of a public inquiry.
Regeneration director Alan Stennard gave evidence to the hearing, chaired by Sue Charteris, yesterday.
The second day of the inquiry into the 11 library closures – part of the Strategic Asset Review (SAR) announced by the council late last year – focused on its plans.
Mr Stennard faced difficult questions from Ms Charteris and early on admitted the authority had “not done a specific study” of people’s library requirements.
But he insisted “quite a bit of work” was done in previous years and the council had drawn on local knowledge of officers and councillors.
He also said the authority had committed to spend £20m on new facilities and a further £6m on IT.
