North-east Fife’s SNP MSP, MP and councillors have joined forces in a campaign to prevent up to six library closures across the constituency.
The proposals submitted by the Fife Cultural Trust to Fife Council last week confirmed that 16 libraries are being considered for closure, with the largest number of proposed closures due to take place in north east Fife. The libraries selected are: Colinsburgh, Crail, Pittenweem, Falkland, Freuchie and Lundin Links.
Describing the proposals as “disproportionate” and “unjustifiable”, MSP Roderick Campbell has written to Fife Council’s chief executive to urge the council’s executive committee, which meets tomorrow, to reject the proposals. He has also asked the Scottish Government to intervene.
Mr Campbell said: “I am very disappointed that the Fife Cultural Trust has selected such a disproportionately large number of libraries to close in north-east Fife. In such a rural area, I cannot understand why so many communities face having such a valuable asset being stripped away.
“At this stage, these remain proposals but I am calling on Fife Council to scrap these plans before they can even get off the ground. I have seen no justification to support ripping these libraries from these communities, and these plans must be consigned to the scrapheap”.
MP Stephen Gethins said: “I will help to fight these closures, tooth and nail, and I would encourage all library users, across the constituency, to do likewise. Small communities particularly those in the East Neuk, who will be hit hardest by the proposals need to prove how vital the libraries are.”