Resident urges councillors to keep Mirfield Library

Dec 9 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

KEEN reader Roger Johnson asked councillors not to close his library.

The Mirfield man is worried his town’s library could be axed as Kirklees Council cuts its budget in its spending squeeze.

Mr Johnson spoke at last night’s monthly council meeting, saying: “With £80m of savings to be found, the cuts will be beyond most people’s comprehension.

“Libraries are a soft target and four or five of the 23 in Kirklees may go. No councillor can guarantee that Mirfield Library will not close.

“Mirfield does not have a big ticket item like a sports centre or a swimming pool, what it does have is a well-used library.

“Closing it would rip the heart out of the town.”

Kirklees Cabinet member for adults and communities Clr Peter O’Neill said: “I haven’t seen a proposal to close Mirfield Library but it’s something that I can’t rule out.”