We MUST act quickly...Cheshire West & Chester Council are planning to close down Hoole Library on 30th October, 2012.

In its place they hope to put a Free School, which will be run by the company North West Academies, outside of local authority care & control.

Cheshire West & Chester Council claims that it will eventually relocate Hoole Library. HOWEVER, there is no firm plan in place as to when a relocation will happen & where exactly any new provision will be located.

According to the council the decision to close down Hoole Library (with VERY little notice), was made based on Health & Safety reasons. HOWEVER, no details relating to the official Health & Safety report (including a copy of the report itself) have so far been released.

Furthermore, an assessment was drawn up by the Head of the Library Service on 17th May, 2012 (over 5 months ago!) outlining then a timetable for the relocation of functions away from the current Hoole Library site. It is clear, therefore, that Cheshire West & Chester has been aware of the situation at the library for a considerable amount of time, & as a result they have had ample opportunity to prepare & undertake a public consultation exercise. In spite of this, the council has chosen NOT to fulfil it's obligation to local residents & to Hoole Library users.

Please sign this petition & take the opportunity to let Stephen Mosley (MP for Cheshire West & Chester Council) know exactly what you think about his council's decision to close down Hoole Library, without a prior public consultation & with no alternative provision in place.

If we do not act quickly it is possible that we will lose OUR library...a valuable public service & a precious local resource.