THE threat of closure hangs over the town's libraries after a public consultation was launched yesterday, Monday.

A number of the town’s library facilities face uncertainty under proposed changes revealed at a meeting last night.

LiveWire, which took over the management of 11 libraries in Warrington in 2012, has now started a 30 day public consultation.

The decision was linked to a decline in memberships and lending by the public.

Since 2010, library visits have decreased by an average of 32 per cent at all libraries in Warrington with the exception of integrated hub libraries in Orford and Woolston which have seen visits increase by an average of 96 per cent over the last six years.

The company will spend this month speaking to residents about plans to shut libraries in Stockton Heath, Penketh, Lymm, Culcheth, Warrington Town Centre, Padgate, Burtonwood, Westbrook and Birchwood.

These services would be replaced by libraries inside large neighbourhood hubs and smaller wellbeing centres.

The first public meeting, which was held at Stockton Heath Library yesterday, was attended by more than 100 people of all ages.

For more details pick up a copy of this week's Warrington Guardian on Thursday. 

Meetings to discuss the plans will be held at:

Penketh Library

September 6 - 6pm

Culcheth Library

September 7 - 7.30pm

Lymm Library 

September 8 - 7pm

Padgate Library

September 10 - 10am

Jubilee Suite, Orford Jubilee Park

September 12 - 6pm

Warrington Library

September 13 - 7pm

Burtonwood Library

September 14 - 6pm

Westbrook Library

September 15 - 6pm

Birchwood Library

September 19 - 6pm

Woolston Library

September 20 - 6pm

St Margarets Community Centre

September 21 - 6.30pm

St Elphin’s Community Centre

September 22 - 6pm

Bewsey Park Community Centre

September 26 - 6pm

Broomfields Leisure Centre

September 27 - 6pm

Great Sankey Leisure Centre

September 28 - 7.30pm

Studio Theatre, Pyramid

September 29 - 6pm

Walton Hall

October 4 - 7pm