LIBRARIES are in a better place now than they were in September according to the councillor responsible for culture and leisure in the town.

Cllr Tony Higgins praised the Save Warrington’s Libraries campaigners, who have been fighting to halt the closure of nine of the town’s 11 libraries.

A leaked report on LiveWire’s public consultation about the future of libraries across the town revealed the town centre library will be saved and the company is looking into ways to protect the other sites under threat.

“I’m very confident in delivering a full, comprehensive library service. With creative thinking and by taking on board the thousands of comments from the public consultation, we will get a positive result,” said Cllr Higgins, executive board member for leisure, community and culture.

“We are in a better place now than we were in September when the consultation began.

“The Save Warrington’s Libraries campaign group have been fantastic throughout this process and have been very supportive towards me as we work towards a positive solution.”

A petition to save the libraries racked up more than 10,000 signatures after LiveWire announced plans to save £300,000 from their budget by slashing the library service.

The report on LiveWire’s consultation will be presented to the council’s executive board at a meeting in March.

Cllr Higgins has been speaking to residents and staff at libraries and said he was ‘heartened’ to see so many people supporting the new Friends of Penketh Library group. 

He added: “The fact that the town centre library isn’t going anywhere is in itself a huge victory for the campaigners.

“I believe that once we have gone through this process, we will have a library service to be proud of. Unlike many other authorities who are closing their libraries we have been creative, we have listened and I will deliver on my promise.”