In the examples above, most of the councils have shut a rather unnecessary quantity of libraries, especially Brent. I appreciate Tory run councils are hardly angels, but I havent seen so many examples of mass closures like this in their seats.

I remember filling out Camden’s library consultation, with the front page being a letter from a Labour MP simply giving propaganda about how dedicated her party were on the council and how all the problems were from the central government.
Filling out the consultation, this really wasn’t what I wanted to read and I knew from the start that the outcome was going to be the closure of several branches. I would have preferred it if the consultation was more open to ideas rather than the options given. I’m not bothered about who is doing what, I just would rather we could fix this problem ASAP, with the visible cuts being as light as possible.
This is particularly why I chose Bexley and Bromley as an example. In Bromley, a new library has opened in Orpington and Bromley Central has just been refurbished. I haven’t seen any clear signs of closures yet.
I think if councils are more creative, eg. by sharing more services etc, we can continue to maintain quality library services on a good budget.

Trevor Craig is right. All parties are cutting libraries and Conservative Councils are being much more cagey about their handling of this.

In Conservative-controlled Croydon, the message given is that the council have listened, having consulted on just six libraries, and all remain open. Very little information than this is given; even the local press seem unable or unwilling to speak out on this issue, as the local press have in other areas. Conservative-controlled Wandsworth, with whom Croydon work to outsource (i.e. privatise) libraries, have been more open about their actions.

Croydon residents are generally misinformed as few realise that the council are forging ahead with plans to outsource the whole network of 13 libraries. Few feel they can complain about the inferior service on offer due to staff cuts, reduced book stock and reduced funding, as at least their library is open. And who wants to complain when they see the remaining staff working so hard to try to maintain a service?

Residents are being conditioned to accept their lot, without complaint.

I’d have more respect for the local politicians if they were honest about what was really happening, rather than hiding behind empty platitudes and silence. Run the libraries down, cut the staff, the book stock and the opening hours or shut them completely but at least have the courage of conviction to be honest and open about actions taken. The silent underhand erosion of a library service, hollowed out, whilst giving the clear public message that the service has been saved, is a cowardly act worthy of contempt.

“Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable.”

Or in this case both because Vaizey isn’t doing the job he is paid to do. Vaizey the new Beeching