New Mill Library looks set to shut

Jun 12 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

NEW MILL Library looks set to be shut down.

The future of the village library is to be discussed at the next meeting of the Kirklees Cabinet on June 17.

But it seems likely that councillors will endorse the controversial decision to close it – saving £41,000.

That comes despite a concerted effort by local residents and councillors to save the library.

The recommendation to the Cabinet is to ratify the previous decision made at a Kirklees Council meeting in February to close the premises.

People in New Mill would then be encouraged to use a new mobile library service.

If Cabinet accepts these recommendations, the library would close on July 25 and the new mobile service will begin visiting the following week to ensure that the community has continued access to library facilities.

The campaigners who have fought to save their village library thought they may have a reprieve.

Councillors on a Kirklees scrutiny panel agreed to look again at the controversial decision in April and report back. But that hope now seems to have vanished.

The Kirklees Council’s Labour / Lib Dem cabinet had announced that the Holmfirth Road venue would close to save money.