IN my opinion MP Helen Jones expressed very valid concerns about LiveWire’s ability to run Warrington’s library services (Warrington Guardian, October 27).
Similar concerns have been shared across the town during the well-attended public meetings which were organised at fairly short notice and aimed at allowing the public to voice their opinions at the proposed swinging cuts to the town’s well-used library services.
There has been no evidence to substantiate LiveWire’s claim to have carried out a full and inclusive consultation about these proposals and given the omission of critical data from its initial presentations it is reasonable to suggest that its methodology has been flawed from the outset.
Very similar attempts to implement very radical proposals linked to Walton Gardens were overturned by local residents several years ago.
It is possible that Mrs Jones is unaware of widespread rumours that LiveWire has already been in consultation with a Cheadle Hulme-based company about sub-contracting some of the town’s library services with metal lockers.
Perhaps a cost benefit analysis on the use of profit-driven providers to deliver library services would demonstrate that the privatisation of public services is not in the best interest of local residents of all ages and from all backgrounds.
It does appear that austerity measures across the north west in particular are being used to benefit commercial companies at great cost to those in need of free access to public services such as libraries and public parks.
Hopefully the strong public response to these ill-thought-through proposals will lead to a rethink by Warrington Borough Council.
NORMA HORNBY
Appleton
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