A WESTMINSTER versus County Hall row has broken out over plans to close libraries.

MP Ben Wallace has formed an alliance with one of his rivals in an attempt to bring Lancashire County Council to book over its closure schedule.

But a leading Red Rose councillor has hit back and says the decision was taken for the right reasons and defends staff at County Hall.

The Conservative member of Parliament for Lancaster and Wyre has linked up with Chorley Labour MP Lindsay Hoyle to mount a dual challenge against plans to shut nine libraries across Lancashire including those in Caton and Warton.

The plans aim to help Lancashire County Council balance the books but a furious Mr Wallace is to fight them all the way - with the full support of Mr Hoyle.

The MP says: "We are going to lodge a formal complain to the Secretary of State under Clause 10 of the 1964 Libraries and Public Museums Act. It means he will have to hold a public inquiry.

"The county council has taken this decision to cut costs yet for some reason it spends around a quarter of a million pounds each year on a community newspaper. These library closures are simply to keep bureaucrats in their jobs.

"Lancashire has one of the largest media relations departments you will find and the chief executive's department also has a remarkable amount of staff.

"They spend fortunes yet it would be a drop in the ocean to keep the libraries open.

"Some are only operational a couple of days each week yet they provide an invaluable service to people in the communities."

Mr Wallace feels his alliance with Mr Hoyle reinforces the gravity of the situation and adds: "This is a serious issue. It is not about party politics and hopefully the Secretary of State will sit up and take notice of a Tory and Labour member together."

But County Cllr Chris Chetham has hit back and says: "I understand the concerns of Mr Wallace and if there had been an alternative we would have taken it but the fact remains that prior to the library closures 94.5 per cent of Lancashire residents lived within two miles of a library and after the closures, 94.4 per cent of Lancashire residents will live within two miles.

"The figures are above those recommended by the Secretary of State so I cannot see this going to an inquiry.

"As for Mr Wallace's comments about the community newspaper, all local authorities are encouraged by the government to produce a newspaper and as we provide 85 per cent of servives throughout the county we like to keep residents informed each month.

"As for the media relations department, it is staffed by four people dealing with press, radio and TV, while the office of the chief executive is responsible for a budget of £660 million."