Campaigners battling to save Barnet's libraries angry at snub

Nearly 5,000 people have signed an online and paper version of the petition launched by the Save Barnet's Libraries campaign after the council announced a review of the service.

Around £1m has to be saved from the budget to balance the books, with service-users fearing councillors will shut libraries in order to do this.

Lib Dem activist and blogger Roger Tichborne has been at the forefront of the campaign and petition, which he says has been hampered by bad weather forcing them to cancel street stalls.

He said: “We have been targeting areas with Tory voters to show them what their council is planning, and we have had a good response.

“However, the council won't let us put copies in the libraries themselves which means we can't get to the elderly people who perhaps don't venture out often and then only to places like the library.

“It's denying people their democratic right to have their say in the future of this vital service.”

The Mill Hill resident, who stood in May's council elections, said their efforts had been heralded as a “model campaign” by a national group set up to protect libraries.

A consultation into the future of libraries run by the council ended last month, with more than 1,600 people filling in the form to have their say.

Mr Tichborne added: “The whole consultation was completely rigged to give the answers they wanted.

“They need to ask people what they want to see to improve the service, but these questions were asking if they wanted more internet and DVD access. Libraries are about books first and foremost.”

Councillor Robert Rams, who is in charge of remodelling the service, said they are now looking at the consultation and what proposals they will bring forward to cabinet for the March 29 meeting.

He said: “We've had some very positive views on the way we've handled this consultation from the Museums and Libraries Association, and now we have to take it forward.”