LIBRARY campaigners are calling on the government’s libraries minister to visit Swindon and intervene in plans to cut the town’s library service “before it’s too late”.

The Save Swindon’s Libraries campaign has now submitted representations to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport over what they see as a flawed consultation and unsatisfactory proposal from Swindon Borough Council.

Similar representations from campaigners in Lancashire led the minister, Rob Wilson MP, to visit the area in person earlier this week.

Lancashire Council plans to cut just over a third of its libraries, 28 out of 73 are set to close.

In Swindon the numbers are smaller but the percentage impact is broadly even greater.

Here the council is withdrawing funding for ten out of 15 libraries and proposing significant reductions in staffed hours at four of the remaining five.

Sarah Church, chairman of Save Swindon’s Libraries, said: “Rob Wilson visited a doomed library in the Ribble Valley.

“Whalley Library is up for sale because no voluntary groups could be found to run it.

“His readiness to investigate has set a precedent for all local authorities seeking to cut their libraries.

“Hopes are high that Mr Wilson will intervene in Swindon before it is too late.”

Last month, Coun Mary Martin accompanied North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson to meet with Rob Wilson in Westminster.

The discussions were said to be productive and led the council to consider pursuing a trust model to manage the libraries service moving forward.

However it remains unclear whether any future trust would include at-risk community libraries as well as the core five.

Sarah Church added: “Swindon library campaigners have also submitted official complaints to the DCMS and await a response.

“In spite of confusing reports in the media about trusts, and hopes for a one-off cash sum of £81,000, the fact remains that the council’s cabinet has decided to cease funding all but five of its libraries.

“A strong case has been made that this cut to public library provision- which does not include parish-funded libraries that will not be the responsibility of the Public Library Authority - is in serious breach of the legal duties of the council under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964.”

The act places a statutory duty on local authorities to provide a ‘comprehensive and efficient’ library service.

Details of the council’s trust plans will be released later this month.