THE fight to keep five Flintshire libraries open has been stepped up as more campaigns have been launched across the county.

Petitions have been started to save Queensferry, Garden City, Bagillt and Halkyn libraries as angry residents make their feelings known.

Libraries are facing the axe in the coming months as Flintshire Council looks to cut services to help make £10m savings in next year’s budget.

Cllr David Wisinger, who represents Queensferry, has vowed not to give up and said the library, located at John Summers High School, is used by high school and primary school pupils as well as adult learners from Deeside College.

He said: “We have launched a campaign to save the library and the one in Garden City. The library is vital because it covers a wide area. The library is part of the school, this does not make sense.

“The library is well used. I have been down there myself and seen the kids using it. It is packed. It is a good facility. The money they save will be a pittance.

“It is a substantial facility. There are a lot of people who are going to lose out if it shuts.”

It is hoped enough pressure can be put on Flintshire Council to reverse the decision.

Halkyn county councillor Colin Legg said the village library was only open part-time and sections of the community were served by a mobile library, but that it was still well used.

He said: “People are very much against the closure. Any library is important to any community. Pensioners depend on it for their reading materials and an interest in life.

“It is a good library and there are plenty of materials. There has been a very good response to the petition.”

Other libraries under threat include Gwernaffield Library and Garden City Library in Sealand, where Cllr Christine Jones is calling for it to be used as a community centre as well as a library.

She is planning to write to Ian Budd, Flintshire Council’s director of lifelong learning, and Cllr Nigel Steele-Mortimer, executive member for education, with her proposal.

She said: “We could re-organise the library and use it as a community meeting place as well. We really can’t lose our library, and the same goes for the one in
Queensferry.”