A PETITION signed by more than 2,000 people, calling for library services to be maintained during the spending cuts, has been handed over to the council.

About 30 library users, who fear branch closures and the replacement of staff by volunteers, gathered with banners on the steps of the Central Library to hand over the document yesterday.

Under the council’s rules, the petition must be debated at the full council meeting on September 23 because it attracted more than 1,500 names.

Petition organiser Shirley Burnham said: “We know that the council is being forced to make swinging cuts and we are dismayed that many of these cuts are going to fall on front line services and libraries are a particularly soft target.

“In a recession, people need libraries more than ever for free access to computers, for research and making job applications.

And reading for leisure is something that most people do.

“The library service costs council taxpayers not a lot and if back office functions were really scrutinised and if there weren’t enormous budgets for other things within the council that don’t provide an essential service, libraries could be saved.”

Ms Burnham and other volunteers collected the names from passers-by in the town centre, Old Town, Penhill, Covingham, Wroughton, Moredon, The Orbital and West Swindon District Centre.

Over about a month, they also knocked on doors to gather signatures and left forms near the tills in shops.

The petition, which contains a total of 2,155 names, was presented to Labour group leader Derique Montaut and Lib Dem group leader Stan Pajak. Council leader Rod Bluh was invited but had other engagements.

Coun Montaut said: “I welcome this petition and think the sheer numbers that have come out in support of public libraries is a warning to Swindon’s administration of the consequences if they tamper with these cherished establishments of communities.

“I look forward to debating the future of public libraries in the council chamber. The administration has real questions to answer with their decision to spend £50,000 on the consultancy of Swindon’s library service, while some libraries cost less than this to run a year.”

Coun Pajak said libraries were vital to communities and pledged to battle to ensure that library services are not cut.

Fionuala Foley, cabinet member for leisure and corporate services, said: “In the 10 years I have been a councillor, I have never known such financial issues that we are facing today.

“I would hope to preserve library branches and I would encourage local residents to get involved and volunteer at their local branches.

“We currently, as we are today, don’t have any plans to close branches. But we don’t know what is coming out in October and I think it is premature to start doing petitions and scaremongering about closing when nothing is being discussed.”