Bromley LibDems call for investment in libraries

5.36.35pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 2nd Dec 2004

Councillor David McBride is calling for investment in our libraries.

The Liberal Democrats have identified the Borough's libraries as a priority for investment in next year's Council budget. Lib Dem Councillors David McBride and Chris Maines will make the demand when they move a motion calling for investment at the next Council meeting.

The Councillors say that the libraries in Bromley fall short of national standards in two key areas, namely insufficient money spent on new books and the proximity of libraries to local residents.

Cllr David McBride, the Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader, said that money which was promised for libraries has not been spent. "When some of the Borough's leisure services were transferred away from the Council to a Trust, it was stated that money would be spent to improve libraries but that hasn't happened. Councillors on the Leisure Scrutiny Committee have always backed my calls for more money to be spent on the Books. Now is the right time to do it."

Liberal Democrat Leader Cllr Chris Maines has called for an investigation to be made into providing a new library in the Locks Bottom area. "Residents in the Farnborough and Crofton areas of Orpington have one of the furthest distances to travel to a local library. I want the Council to investigate putting a library in the Locks Bottom area. Bromley Council will be nearer to meeting national library standards and it will relief the immense strain currently on Orpington Library."