New Invention Library is one of seven libraries ear marked by Mike Bird’s Conservatives for closure. Using the Budget Consultation process the Conservatives currently running Walsall Council have adopted a “Divide and Rule” strategy designed to downgrade all seven libraries to nothing more than a second class book exchange service.

Speaking at last week’s Corporate and Public Services Scrutiny Panel Lib Dem Focus Team Cllr Ian Shires said “Book Exchanges are not Libraries and Libraries are about much more than borrowing books!” When challenged by Cllr Ian Shires at the meeting the Leader of the Council Cllr Mike Bird confirmed that Libraries would close.

“I am really disappointed about the way in which this vital service has been treated like a political football over the past couple of years” said Ian. “Conservatives nationally and locally have forgotten the true value of libraries to local communities, they know the cost of everything but the value of nothing.

“There are red lines we will defend and will not cross. We will have no truck with closing any of the seven libraries currently under threat.”

Last week’s debate was the result of a petition triggering a report to Scrutiny. Some 900 people in the North Willenhall area had signed a petition to keep New Invention Library open which had been organised by the Conservatives. We have no doubt that many of those who signed the petition in good faith will be bitterly disappointed to hear that the organisers were engaged in behind the scenes talks to close the Library at The Square, New Invention, to create a book exchange at the Beacon Primary School.