CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a village library are to stage a protest and vigil outside the building on the day it closes.

New Mill Library is to close its doors for the last time on Saturday.

The death knell for the library was sounded by Kirklees Council last month to save the council £41,000, despite protests.

Politicians, too, are refusing to concede defeat.

But campaigners still believe the popular library can be saved.

The new leaders of Kirklees Council have been challenged to save New Mill from the axe.

It was the council’s Labour/Lib Dem cabinet who agreed the closure but a new Labour-only cabinet took control of the council at last Wednesday’s monthly council meeting.

Clr Nigel Patrick, who represents New Mill, asked the new libraries chief Clr Peter McBride to re-open the issue.

Protestor Jason McCartney says membership has actually increased since the library was threatened with closure.

Mr McCartney, the Conservative candidate for Colne Valley, which includes Holme Valley, said: "It’s a well loved, well used facility which gives people access not just to books and newspapers but to PCs when not everyone can afford a PC and broadband.

"Every time I’ve been in there’s people using the computers and mums and dads and toddlers doing young reading sessions.

"I’m getting phone calls from people wondering what can be done.

"If the council can find £25,000 for water butts why can’t they find some money to keep the library open?"

Clr Patrick said: "I took the opportunity to ask the incoming cabinet member Clr Peter McBride if he would meet with the Holme Valley South ward councillors to find a way to save New Mill Library.

"The response was a categorical no. Clr McBride said as far as he was concerned the decision had been made and he was not going to revisit it."

The Holme Valley South Conservative added: "I was hoping the new administration would sit down with us to look at opportunities to keep the library open, but they will not even talk to us."

Labour leader Clr Mehboob Khan rejected Clr Patrick’s criticism.

He said: "The decision about New Mill Library was made after a lengthy process which allowed councillors to have their say.

"Nigel Patrick has not introduced any new facts and he did not even attend the cabinet meeting where the decision was made.

"It is unfortunate that he and his ward colleagues have not fulfilled their role as community champions and are playing party politics by asking for this matter to be reopened."

Saturday’s protest is at 11am.