WIRRAL Council’s library saga officially crashed to a halt last night – but with very little fanfare.

The council’s cabinet took barely a minute to unanimously revoke the controversial decision to close 11 libraries in the borough.

Council leader Steve Foulkes did not allow any comment or debate at what proved to be a packed cabinet meeting at Wallasey Town Hall last night.

Instead, cabinet members voted unanimously to endorse his decision – and that of deputy leader Cllr Simon Holbrook – to revoke their original plan to shut the libraries.

That overturned the decision in January to close 11 libraries and invest £20m in 13 new Neighbourhood Centres as part of a Strategic Asset Review.

The item was added to the cabinet’s agenda under “any other business” but bumped to the start of the meeting. It was quickly passed and the cabinet’s business continued as normal.

Cllr Foulkes said he recognised the decision to revoke the earlier plan created “serious budgetary implications” for the current financial year. He said: “This will leave a gap of at least £830,000 in the revenue budget, as well as the need to find a further estimated £200,000 to cover immediate repairs.”