Anger as county reveals libraries and childrens centres hit list

MORE than 50 key council building including libraries and children's centres across East Lancashire are set to close, it was confirmed last night.
The announcement by County Labour leader Jenny Mein yesterday provoked shock and outrage from politicians of all parties.
In total 54 of the authority's buildings in Hyndburn, Burnley, Pendle, Ribble Valley, Rossendale and Chorley are set to shut their doors within the next 12 months.
Cllr Mein's report is due to be approved Lancashire County Council's ruling Cabinet on Tuesday as it seeks to save £200 million by 2021.
There will now then be another 12 week consultation period with a final decision in September.
Among the 106 buildings earmarked for closure county-wide are four libraries in Burnley, five children's and young people's centres in Hyndburn, four libraries in Pendle, an adult disability day centre in Ribble Valley and Rossendale Registration office and Bacup Library.
Cllr Mein said: "I'm acutely aware that people have a very strong connection to their local services, particularly places like libraries which are often seen as a valuable part of the community.
"These proposals are very difficult ones, but our aim is to come up with a solution that still gives everyone in Lancashire good access to good services, even though some will have to be further away than they are now."
Burnley's Labour leisure and culture boss Bea Foster said: “I’m very shocked at the extent of the decimation of services for so many communities in Burnley and Padiham.
“It’s so sad that these wonderful facilities are being closed.
“Rosegrove Library has been part of the fabric of the area for generations and will be a great loss.
“I would urge the county council during the 12-week consultation to try and maintain a continuation of these services."
Hyndburn Tory borough and county councillor Peter Britcliffe said: “It’s absolutely devastating news.
"It is shocking the county's Labour leadership should slip this out on the smokescreen of the local election results.
"The consultation will be a sham."
Brierfield Labour Councillor Naeem Hussain Ashraf said: “I am gobsmacked.
"A few years ago we spent so much money on Brierfield Library, I am truly lost for words.
“I am determined to fight to save it tooth and nail.
“It’s an absolute disgrace."
Originally 238 buildings were considered for closure.
The latest proposals would see nine buildings close in Burnley including the Briercliffe, Burnley Campus, Pike Hill and Rosegrove libraries and five community and young people's centres.
Nine closures proposed for Hyndburn include the Clayton-le-Moors, Oswaldtwistle and Rishton libraries and Accrington Youth Offending team.
In Pendle the nine closures include the libraries in Barrowford, Brierfield, Trawden and Earby and young people's centres in Colne, Barrowford, Trawden. Brierfield and Barnoldswick.
There are seven closures planned for Ribble Valley including Chatburn, Read and Whalley libraries; eight in Rossendale and 12 in Chorley.
Blackburn with Darwen borough, which has a separate all-purpose local authority, is unaffected.
The county proposes bringing services together to form a network of multi-functional buildings known as Neighbourhood Centres, which would provide a base for a range of different services in one place.
Meanwhile many buildings would no longer be used and the number of places at which some services are available would reduce.
Cllr Mein said: "The severity of the county council's financial position cannot be overstated, and the ongoing cuts in central government funding combined with rising demand for our services mean the only way we can maintain the services that people rely on is to deliver them in a different way.