THE campaign to save Dorset’s threatened libraries has been backed by two high profile local Tories.
Oscar-winning screenwriter Julian Fellowes, a Conservative peer, has given his support to the Ad Lib (Association of Friends of Dorset Libraries) campaign.
West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin, who is a member of the coalition cabinet, has also backed opposition to Dorset County Council proposals to withdraw funding to ten libraries.
The council is just weeks away from making a decision on the future of the library service in Dorset as it seeks to achieve savings of £800,000.
The option preferred by council officers would see ten of the county’s 34 libraries lose funding and face the threat of closure.
Ad Lib is supporting an alternative proposal that would see all 34 libraries retain funding, with savings made across the service in a bid to achieve the council’s target.
Lord Fellowes of West Stafford has penned a letter to the council’s cabinet member for community services Hilary Cox and chairman of its police development panel Councillor David Crowhurst.
He says: “There seems to have grown up an idea that the destruction of libraries is somehow demanded by the Prime Minister and that it is an act of loyalty to him and his policies to lay them waste.
“In fact he and the Chancellor want to hear of imaginative schemes that mean money may be saved with as little damage to communities as possible.”
Lord Fellowes also states that he was amazed to hear that Conservative councillors defeated a proposal to support the Ad Lib-backed option of retaining all 34 libraries at a meeting of the council’s community overview committee.
He said: “I must confess to a sense of amazement at the news that a recent bid to save the threatened libraries of Dorset was defeated last week by a vote from the Conservative councillors.
“This, when it seemed to have been made clear that there was a sensible and workable plan which meant the essential savings could be made anyway, and that there was therefore no need to wreck this precious facility or to lose at least quite so many jobs.”
Mr Letwin has also written a letter supporting the work of the Ad Lib group and voicing his preference for the retention of all of Dorset’s libraries.
He says: “I am a keen supporter of local involvement in community libraries and I welcome the fact that people in West Dorset continue to make important contributions through voluntary efforts.
“However, I think we have to recognise that there are limits on what volunteers can be expected to do and on the ability of village communities to raise their own funding.”
Acting chairman of Ad Lib Tim Lee said: “We are enormously encouraged by the support of two such high profile Conservative politicians.
“Especially as it was Conservative councillors who voted down a call to preserve all the libraries last month.”
The future options for the library service will be debated at the council’s cabinet tomorrow before a final decision is made at full council on July 21.
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