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UP to four libraries could shut to make way for a £400,000 super-library at a new Burnley secondary school.

Colne Road, Briercliffe, Barbon Street, Pike Hill and Brunshaw are in the firing line under plans for a new library at the sixth form premises being built at Barden Lane as part of the Burnley Campus.

If Colne Road - which costs £43,000 a year to run -shuts another two out of the five will close. If it stays open the remaining four will all be forced to shut.

The Barden site is due to open by 2008 as part of the £250million Building Schools for the Future scheme.

The new library will serve the school and community, with access to information, IT facilities, educational opportunities and books.

Burnley Councillors said the closures would cause anger in the areas where people could lose libraries.

Lib Dem deputy leader Charlie Bullas said: "This will not be accepted by residents if they are going to have to traipse to Barden to change library books.

"Have they done a full consultation with people who are going to use the facilities, or lose their facilities?"

Briercliffe councillor Roger Frost said: "There has been a library in Briercliffe since 1830 and it would be real shame to see it and the two others close. I think the elderly in the village and the children at the primary school, who both use the library a lot, will lose out."

County Councillor Chris Cheetham, cabinet member for adult and community services, said: "This isn't about making cuts, it's about taking a unique opportunity to revitalise and modernise Burnley's library service.

"Barbon Street and Briercliffe are very small and not suitable for delivering modern libraries. The Colne Road facility is within half a mile of the new Burnley campus so the new library would effectively replace it."

The closures will be discussed by the Lancashire Local Burnley committee on Wednesday.

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1423605.0.four_libraries_could_be_replaced_by_superlibrary.php4:31pm Thursday 24th May 2007

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Mel

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THREE Burnley libraries will shut to make way for a £400,000 super-library at a new Burnley secondary school, under recommendations from councillors.

Lancashire Local - Burnley councillors have said that Colne Road, Barbon Street and Brunshaw branches could close, but Briercliffe and Pike Hill will stay open, The councillors gave their views on which branches should shut at a Lancashire Local meeting on Wednesday.

The closures are part of plans for a new library at the sixth form premises being built at Barden Lane as part of the Burnley Campus.

The Barden site is due to open by 2008 as part of the £250million Building Schools for the Future scheme.

The new library will serve the school and community, with access to information, IT facilities, educational opportunities and books.

None of the three under threat will close until the new library is open.

The cabinet member for adult and community services councillor Chris Cheetham will make the final decision.

http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/news/localnews/display.var.1439950.0.three_libraries_to_close.php 5:25pm Thursday 31st May 2007

_________________
Mel

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