Hibbert: ‘library’ service an insult

AN average of under two books a day has been borrowed since Broadway Library was replaced with an “inadequate” facility.

Labour councillor Dave Hibbert has hit out at the figures for the first month of the replacement service at Turf Lane Community Centre.

Broadway Library in Chadderton closed in May as part of the Liberal Democrat-led council’s £20 million cost-cutting package.

The reduced, self-service replacement — which initially had books on hospital-style trollies — has been condemned by Councillor Hibbert, who obtained the borrowing figures from the council.

He said: “It just shows it has been a big mistake to put it there. People are not using it and the problem is a lot of people are not aware of it.

“People are turning up at Broadway and finding it is not open. I have heard that people have gone to the house next door and asked if they can leave their books there!

“Turf Lane is not only inadequate, it is an insult. It just shows the lack of preparation when they decided to close Broadway Library.”

Readers face more misery when Turf Lane closes for two weeks at the end of the month for building work.

Meanwhile, Chadderton Health and Well Being Centre is due to open in the town centre in the autumn, with Chadderton Central Library relocating into the new building.

Councillor John McCann, cabinet member for community services and housing, said: “There is no way that any sort of valid or useful comparison can be made between Turf Lane and Broadway.

“The facility will not be fully developed until building work has been carried out later this month, when we can ensure that it is marketed effectively and local people are aware of what is on offer here and in the locality, such as the new facility in Chadderton.”

He added: “The Broadway site is a valuable site. It’s one of those we hope is more developable than most. If we can get somebody, a condition of the development is there is a community room and an access point.

“We have had feedback from the community in Chadderton that some people like the Turf Lane facility because it’s nearer to them.”