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Library backers hope for closures U-turn

Library backers  hope for closures U-turn

A crunch meeting over Moray Council’s plans to close libraries will take place on Wednesday.

Campaigners calling for the reversal of the decision said they were hopeful of a positive reaction when the councillors gathered.

Save Our Libraries Moray has already decided to launch a legal challenge over the ruling by the Conservative-Independent administration to close seven buildings and one mobile library against the recommendation of their own legal officers and the findings of an equality impact assessment.

Moray Council has already received notification from solicitors representing Hopeman library campaigner Vivien Hendry an action would be raised in the Court of Session, with an assurance sought that the intention to close the libraries at the end of this month is suspended until the case has been heard.

On Wednesday, a full meeting of the council will decide on an SNP motion to suspend standing orders and allow the decision to be debated again, with the legal challenge being cited as a “compelling reason” to do so.

Campaigners met Rhoda Grant MSP and her three Labour colleagues serving on Moray Council, John Divers, Barry Jarvis and Sean Morton, on Friday.

Save Our Libraries Moray chairman Alistair Jeffs said: “It was a constructive meeting and we appreciate Rhoda Grant taking the time to travel to Elgin and offer her advice.

“We also noted that she had signed the motion at the Scottish Parliament supporting our action.

“While several options were discussed, we reiterated our intention that all seven libraries remain open. That is and remains our primary aim.

“We remain hopeful that councillors will take account of the strong feelings, not only in Moray, but throughout the country over their previous decision and accept that this simply should not happen.

“Today, there is to be a protest outside Cullen Library, one of the seven scheduled for closure, while on Wednesday we are calling on people in Moray to make their feelings known at 9am outside the Moray Council HQ.

“This short demonstration ahead of the meeting will underline to all councillors that, while we recognise the difficult decisions they must take, our libraries are not an area where cuts that harm the most vulnerable in our society need to be made.”