THE deputy leader of Swindon Council has hit out at the “audacity” of those who have criticised her cost cutting proposals.

At a scrutiny meeting on Monday, Coun Fionuala Foley (Con, Old Town and Lawn) laid into Lib Dem leader Stan Pajak who questioned plans to make savings across the council’s library service.

Her comments have led her to be labelled “her royal smugnificance” by one supporter of the library.

Coun Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) raised the concerns of Old Town Library supporters who fear they will be asked to run their library on a volunteer basis.

The suggestion, backed by Coun Foley, would see the council continue to fund the running of the library but with volunteers staffing the Victoria Road facility.

Coun Pajak said: “Some decisions seem like a fait accomplit, such as the talk about using volunteers to look after Old Town Library.

“I understand one councillor has already been out trying to recruit volunteers. What do people have to do to keep their library?”

Coun Foley said: “I can’t quite believe the audacity of you when you are sitting there, saying you share our concerns over the financial problems we are in.

“Three people came to the open forum and said ‘oh, why can’t you find your money somewhere else, it’s only £22,000?’ We are not just talking about £22,000 – we are talking about people’s jobs. They are not just positions, they are people. Things have never been so difficult.

“We are in a totally different financial situation and we now have a fantastic new central library facility.

“I take the view that Old Town residents always boast about what a great community they have, and I maintain that is true. So I felt that if anywhere was up for a challenge it was Old Town.”

Shirley Burnham, of Friends of Old Town Library, said: “I agree with Coun Foley on a lot of things but on this I think she is dead wrong.

“She was full of admiration for my audacity this summer when I was organising events, but as soon as I disagree with what she is proposing she gets upset. There are lots of people who agree with her and lots who don’t – it is my democratic right to disagree with her royal smugnificance.”

A petition to save Old Town Library is available at Earle’s Newsagents, in Newport Street, and Victoria News, in Victoria Road.