A WIRRAL library is now unable to host community group meetings because its furniture was sold off after it was announced it was being shut down.

The “Friends” group at Wallasey Village Library had sold off furniture and other items earlier this year after the council gave a date for its closure. The Friends group was also disbanded.

Now the council is facing demands that it help out the library, following the change of policy.

Wallasey Village library was among 11 of the borough’s 24 libraries scheduled to shut starting last April. The closure programme was only halted when the Government ordered an independent inquiry into the controversial plans.

This decision was then dramatically overturned last week when the ruling Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition announced they would revoke their earlier decision on library closures – although it leaves the authority with £1million extra to find in its budget.

Wallasey councillors Lesley Rennie and Paul Hayes are now calling for the council to replace the furniture.

Cllr Mrs Rennie said: “I recently called for the Wallasey and New Brighton Area Forum to be held at Wallasey Village Library as it is at the heart of our community and many elderly residents would find it fairly easy to get to.

“However, I was told we couldn’t have it in the library as there weren’t enough tables and chairs because they had been sold after the decision to close the libraries was made.