MIDDLEWICH'S MP Fiona Bruce has spoken of her opposition to Cheshire East Council plans to cut library hours.

The borough council has just run a consultation on proposals to reduce the operating hours so all libraries would be closed for at least one and a half days during the week.

The proposed changes to the hours would see Knutsford and Holmes Chapel libraries close for a full extra day in the week, while Handforth and Middlewich will close for an additional half day.

This plan comes as the council faces having to fill a £20 million funding gap, although the amount of savings needing to be made from library services has been reduced.

Ms Bruce, MP for the Congleton constituency, raised the proposal in Parliament.

She asked: "Labour-led Cheshire East Council has proposed to close all libraries for at least one and a half weekdays every week.

"In my constituency, that will affect libraries in Alsager, Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Middlewich and Congleton.

"Does the Leader of the House agree members of Congleton Town Council and others are absolutely right to oppose that inexplicable proposal, bearing in mind its negative and, indeed, potentially damaging impact?

"Not only on young people’s learning but on many of my least well-off constituents, who depend on libraries for welfare checks, bus applications, computer use for job applications, to read the local papers, and many other everyday essentials."

Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt said:

"I agree with her: that is a crazy solution to a problem of constrained resource.

"Why have an asset, with all those overheads, just to shut it for part of the week?

"I encourage her council to be a bit more entrepreneurial by generating income, working with partners, asking for business support and doing the many other things that councils up and down the country have done to secure such vital services, including, in some cases, community asset transfers.

"I hope that, in addition to securing a debate and asking a question on Monday, she can also get her council to buck up."

The consultation ran until July 9 and the council will now consider the results.

Cllr Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, said: "This year, the development of a balanced budget and four-year financial plan for the council was made more difficult in the face of ongoing and significant national funding and cost pressures, including unprecedented inflation, alongside increased complexity, and demand for services.

"Proposals for the libraries service were included in the draft MTFS, which was consulted on in January.

"While we have been able to take action based on the feedback we received and of course recognise how valuable libraries are to local communities, savings must be made, and we have no choice but to change the way in which we operate our services.

"The proposals we are now consulting on mean that all our libraries can continue to offer the wide range of services they provide – alongside the wealth of online resources and services available digitally – but ensure we can also make the necessary savings the council must deliver to protect essential services."