Plaid Cymru politicians have called on Caerphilly Council to rethink its decision to close many libraries in its area.
It follows a High Court decision in favour of the authority. The judge refused permission by local campaigners for a Judicial Review to proceed.
Charlotte Bishop, leader of the opposition Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly Council, said: “I’m disgusted. And I’m angry. The Judicial Review has failed, and the council can now go ahead with closing our libraries.
“This isn’t just about replacing a building with a hub. It’s about taking away opportunities from some of the most deprived communities in Caerphilly.
“Not every child has books at home. Not every child has a laptop, decent internet or somewhere quiet to sit and do their homework. For some children, the library is where they get those things. It’s a place to read, learn, use a computer, get online, do homework and access things they simply might not have at home.
“And yes, community hubs are all well and good, but they aren’t a replacement for a library that children and families can actually rely on.
“Then look at everything else happening. Libraries being cut. Leisure services being cut. Transport being changed. All of these decisions have consequences.
“Take away a leisure centre and schools can struggle to get children to swimming because they can’t afford the transport. Make transport harder and you make getting to education harder. Close a library and you take away resources that some children genuinely depend on.
And this is what really annoys me.
“We have had an endless cycle of deprivation and poverty repeating itself since the 1980s. Generation after generation but instead of breaking that cycle, we are taking away some of the very things that could help children break out of it.
“Education matters. Access to books matters. Access to computers and the internet matters. Having somewhere safe to learn matters.l, So if we genuinely want to tackle poverty, then we need to invest in the children growing up in those communities, not take more away from them.
“I don’t see what added value we are giving the people of Caerphilly by continually cutting the services they rely on. I see more barriers. More pressure on families. Fewer opportunities for our children. Our communities deserve better.”
Lindsay Whittle, Plaid Cymru Senedd Member for Blaenau Gwent, Caerffili, Rhymni, said: “I’m very disappointed with the ruling and urge the Labour-run leadership of Caerphilly council to review their previous decision on libraries.
“The council has cut sports facilities, community centres and stopped free school buses for some pupils. People are bound to ask ‘what are we paying our council tax for”? This is not the night of the long knives but we’ve had years of the long knives. Cuts, cuts, cuts, we are going backwards.
“I have no issues about communities, if they wish, taking over their local library. Good luck to them. But a librarian is a skilled role– it’s not about just stamping books, handing them out and collecting them back. Running a library is a big and responsible job,” added Lindsay Whittle, who is a former leader of Caerphilly Council.