LABOUR has questioned the cost of the new Tory Lancashire County Council leadership’s decision to save libraries from closure.

The party's culture spokesman Lizzi Collinge is concerned about the financial viability of raiding reserves to pay for the last-minute reprieve.

The change halted the closure and sale of Whalley Library and Spring Wood Children’s Centre, similar buildings in Earby and Barrowford, and could Oswaldtwistle Library reopen.

County Cllr Collinge said in advance of a Cabinet meeting today: “I’m very concerned that the Conservatives are yet again promising the world to the people of Lancashire but with no means to pay for it.

“They haven’t told us what other budgets they will cut to pay this extra £1.7m a year.”

She added: “Given that the Conservative national government have a record of taking services from the most vulnerable, what are their Lancashire colleagues planning?”