New Mill Library to close

Jun 17 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

CAMPAIGNERS have promised to fight on after councillors decided to close their village library.

Kirklees Council’s Cabinet voted to shut New Mill Library yesterday to save £41,000 a year.

Council figures show the library had 12,248 visitors in 2008/09, costing Kirklees £2.80 per visit. Council officials insist these are the worst figures for any small library in Kirklees.

Cabinet member for regeneration Clr Christine Stanfield justified the closure decision to residents attending the meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall.

The Lindley Lib Dem said: “There are 288 active borrowers at New Mill Library and the computer facilities are in use 44% of the time. I would much rather not shut this facility, there are libraries two miles away in Holmfirth and Shepley.”

Clr Stanfield said the library would be replaced by a mobile service which would visit the village twice a week.

She said: “Mobile units are extremely roomy and the books are changed very, very frequently. Compared with no library, it’s a great deal better than nothing.”

Residents and councillors asked the Cabinet not to go ahead with the closure.