With Denbighshire County Council proposing to cut library services across the county by 40%, Shadow Minister for North Wales and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to introduce minimum standards for libraries in terms of opening hours.  

Last year, Denbighshire Council announced plans to reduce opening hours across the county’s library service by 50%. This was later reduced to 40% following a public consultation in which 95% of respondents opposed the move.

Darren, who has previously expressed concerns regarding the cuts, has now raised the matter in the Senedd.

Calling for a Statement from the relevant Minister on Welsh Government support for public library services, in yesterday’s Business Statement, he said:

“I've been very concerned that Denbighshire County Council are proposing to cut library opening hours. They initially proposed a cut of 50 per cent. They're now proposing a cut of 40 per cent, after there was a huge public outcry in response to the initial consultation.

“Now, we know that libraries are about much more than books these days. They're places of lifelong learning and education, lots of people go there to enjoy the IT facilities as well, which they might not have at home, and, of course, they also promote the Welsh language and culture, so this is a really important issue for my constituents.

“I appreciate that local authorities have difficult choices to make given the pressures on their budgets, but unlike Denbighshire, other local authorities are not proposing to cut their library services so I think it is about time that the Welsh Government issued guidance to set out minimum standards required of our libraries in terms of opening hours, and I would appreciate it if a Minister could bring forward a statement on that.”

Responding, Lesley Griffiths MS, the Welsh Government’s Minister for North Wales, said:

“I don't disagree with anything that you said about the value of services in our libraries. Where I do disagree with the Member is that, obviously, it's a matter for each local authority.”