West Northants hustings: Library cuts ‘were an act of community vandalism’
There was anger over cuts to libraries at NN Journal’s second election hustings
By Natalie Bloomer
The threat of closure to Northamptonshire’s libraries was an ‘act of community vandalism’ Andrew Simpson, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Braunston and Crick, said at NN Journal’s second election hustings last night.
When the candidates were asked how they would support libraries that have been removed from the statutory system in Northants, many took the opportunity to express their anger at the cuts libraries have faced in recent years.
Simpson said:
“I think it was an act of community vandalism when the council threatened libraries with closure. It showed they didn’t understand how many of them are already community hubs and how more could be if we put the investment and time into them.”
Labour’s candidate for Northampton’s Castle ward Danielle Stone branded the situation an ‘absolute disgrace’.
“What’s happened to our libraries is an absolute disgrace. Information and knowledge is power. I feel strongly that power has been taken away from working class communiti…