Moray Council leader Kathleen Robertson is urging local people to “make their voices” heard over the future of library services across the region.
The Conservative councillor has highlighted that a current consultation on how library services will be delivered going forward will finish on Sunday 1 December.
The proposals have been drawn up by council officers, rather than the Conservative administration, but there is an obligation for a full consultation to be carried out on them.
The officers’ plans include a network of four area libraries in Elgin, Forres, Aberlour and Buckie, a new rural community outreach service where libraries are set to close in Burghead, Cullen, Dufftown, Keith, Lossiemouth, Fochabers and Tomintoul as well as developing a housebound service.
Councillor Robertson says that “brutal and sustained” cuts from the SNP Government in Edinburgh have forced Moray Council into making “extremely difficult” decisions in relation to services that local people rely on.
She added that the Conservative group “fully understand” the importance of local libraries to rural communities like Moray and are continuing to explore all alternatives to protect as many services as possible.
Moray Council leader Kathleen Robertson said: “Libraries are at the heart of our communities across Moray and I know how many local people rely on them.
“I would urge people across Moray to make their voices heard before the consultation on the future of library services closes on Sunday.
“The plans have been drawn up by council officers, but it is so important to consult local people before making big decisions like this across Moray.
“My Conservative colleagues and I have absolutely no wish to be in this position and having to look again at cutting local services. The blame lies with the SNP Government who have delivered brutal and sustained cuts to council budgets year after year.
“They continue to ask us to do more with less and make extremely difficult decisions.
“Our councillors fully understand the importance of libraries to people in Moray and we are continuing to look at all ways in which services can be protected.
“I will urge council officers to listen to the views of local people who do not wish their library to close.”
The consultation survey can be found here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Libraries_budget
