Congleton: Saturday's saved but libraries still face hours of operation cuts

By Belinda Ryan - Local Democracy Reporter 27th Feb 2023

Following initial discussions last month, it looks like Congleton Library is going to get their hours of operation slashed.

Cheshire East will make 'substantial savings' by reducing library opening times, but offering more services could see normal hours restored in the future, a councillor said.

The proposal to reduce the opening hours and to close on Saturdays met with an angry response from the public during the consultation period.

As a result the proposal to close on Saturdays was dropped.

A Ukraine flag photographed in the window of Congleton Library. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Congleton Nub News)

At Wednesday's meeting of the full council, when the budget was approved, Cllr Mick Warren, chair of the environment and communities committee, said: "By reducing the opening hours in our libraries we will be able to make substantial savings in this year's budget and help balance the MTFS (mid-term financial strategy 2023-7).

"This proposal, however, I hope will be a temporary measure brought about by the current financial pressures we find ourselves in.

"I want to see this council in future years make greater use of our libraries by locating frontline services into the buildings as other authorities have successfully done."

He said pre-Covid there were 1.4m library visits a year, and numbers were starting to get back towards pre-pandemic levels.

Congleton Library from the rear. (Image - Alexander Greensmith / Congleton Nub News)

"Apart from issuing books, [the libraries] already process blue badges, bus pass applications, take council payments, undertake DBS checks for taxi drivers, verify evidence for benefit applicants, take homeless enquiries and, of course, signpost residents to other sources of help," he said.

"By increasing our offer of services in libraries in future years, I believe this will enable them to return to full-time hours as has happened in other authorities."

He stressed the council was not closing any libraries, as other local authorities had done.

Cheshire East had to make cuts and savings to balance its books this year as it faced a £20m funding gap, despite increasing council by 4.99 per cent.