City opposition to 'fight on' in bid to save libraries and community hubs

LEICESTER City Council has thrown out a bid to protect its libraries, community centres and visitor attractions from cuts amid a backdrop of residents' protests.

- 

Opposition members put forward a motion to pause a new museums strategy that will see opening hours reduced at Abbey Pumping Station and Newarke Houses, and Belgrave Hall shut to the public.

The strategy instead proposes to focus council resources on the “key sites” of Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, Jewry Wall, King Richard III Visitor Centre, and Leicester Guildhall.

The council has said it needs to “realign” resources to make the museum service “more relevant”, adding that some of its venues were “costly to maintain, have a low usage and displays are relatively outdated”.

The motion also called for the Labour leaders of the authority to “end the anxiety and uncertainty hanging over” the city’s libraries and community centres by cancelling a controversial consultation on their futures.

The city council is considering shutting two buildings, while a further 11 could be transferred to community groups to run them.

However, if no suitable group comes forward, the buildings would be considered for “alternative uses” or, where that is not deemed possible, “disposed” of.

Reductions in staff and opening hours are also on the cards for some libraries, with the cash-strapped council consulting on proposals which it says would save £2.1 million a year.