We can save local libraries, say Kirklees Conservatives - and relocating Huddersfield's Central Library is key

Libraries across Kirklees can be saved by relocating the major drain on the library budget - Huddersfield’s Central Library.

That’s the plan put forward by Kirklees Conservatives as part of a budget amendment put forward by the group in a bid to save all local town or village libraries from the risk of closure.

The ruling Labour Party is consulting on plans that could see the closure of all but Huddersfield and Dewsbury libraries plus the home delivery service if communities do not step forward to take them on.

The Conservatives will propose in their alternative budget that all libraries in Kirklees can remain open if other decisions are taken.

Clr Robert Light, Conservative leader, said: “The shortfall in what the council spends now and what the Labour administration has put forward is £5.8m against £3.9m.

“We believe we can keep the libraries and the mobile service open by identifying two things: firstly, the relocation of Huddersfield Central Library, which at present takes up 27% of the whole libraries budget.

“That singe library is absorbing much of the budget and we believe it can be relocated within the town centre and be far less expensive to run.

“We believe what communities want is a local branch library.

“The second is to invest in the library service from savings we’re proposing elsewhere in the budget from central service.”

The Conservatives say they want to work with local communities to develop a more sustainable approach to the service and a multi-use for library buildings.

They have also committed to maintain the mobile libraries in their budget amendment, saying it serves many of smaller villages and outlying areas.

Clr Light added: “Labour’s plans amount to a decimation of our library service and the willful destruction of many activities within our local communities.

“It is totally bonkers to close all our community libraries, no council could possibly not have a network of community libraries in Kirklees and claim to have a libraries service.”

Members of the party toured libraries from Heckmondwike to Marsden and Denby Dale.

Later this week they will set out further budget amendments that have been costed with the council’s finance team ahead of Wednesday’s Budget setting meeting, where councillors must agree on a budget that will include £69m savings.