TOWN hall chiefs have been slammed for closing a popular district library and told they could have kept it open by cutting councillors' perks to save money.

Labour have decided to shut Shadsworth Library in Blackburn even though more than 200 people signed a petition calling on the council to keep it open.

And opposition councillors have called on the ruling Labour group to make the savings by cutting back on expense budgets and mobile phones for councillors.

The move is part of a series of measures aimed at saving £500,000 from Blackburn with Darwen Council's leisure and library services budget.

Staff working at the library have been promised they will be found new jobs in other parts of the borough.

David Foster, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council said: "It is a shame that we are making cuts at the sharp end instead of making savings on things like mobile phones for councillors and members' allowances."

Council chiefs have announced the library will close at the end of July and will be replaced by a mobile van service.

The transfer of books and stock will take around two weeks and building will be converted into a high-tech resource centre for Queen's Park High School. The centre, which will be open to local people, will offer a wide range of services including use of the latest computer technology.

Residents will be asked for their views on when the new van service should visit. Three days a week is likely.

Coun Kate Hollern, community, leisure and cultural services chairman, said: "The new service will be a boost for the people of Shadsworth because the mobile van will actually go into the community it serves.

"The present small branch library is on the edge of the estate and not well located.

"We will be consulting local people in order to find out from them which areas of Shadsworth they feel the van should visit and at what times of the day. We are confident that the service will prove to be more convenient for residents."

Coun Jim Blackburn, chairman of the governors at Queen's Park High School and a Shadsworth ward councillor, said: "The new resource centre will provide a much needed facility for the school and the local community, who will also have access to it."

Details of the new arrangements will be advertised in Shadsworth from Wednesday July 1.

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