Congleton MP Fiona Bruce has raised concerns in the House of Commons about Cheshire East Council plans to reduce opening hours at local libraries – including Congleton.

Speaking in Parliament Ms Bruce said: "Labour-led Cheshire East Council has proposed to close all libraries for at least one and a half weekdays every week.

"In my constituency, that will affect libraries in Alsager, Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich and Congleton.

"Does the Leader of the House agree that members of Congleton Town Council and others are absolutely right to oppose that inexplicable proposal, bearing in mind its negative and, indeed, potentially damaging impact not only on young people's learning but on many of my least well-off constituents, who depend on libraries for welfare checks, bus applications, computer use for job applications, to read the local papers, and many other everyday essentials?'

The Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt responded by saying: "I agree with her: that is a crazy solution to a problem of constrained resource.

"Why have an asset, with all those overheads, just to shut it for part of the week? I encourage her council to be a bit more entrepreneurial by generating income, working with partners, asking for business support and doing the many other things that councils up and down the country have done to secure such vital services, including, in some cases, community asset transfers.

"I hope that, in addition to securing a debate and asking a question on Monday, she can also get her council to buck up."