IT was heated, sometimes angry and occasionally lighthearted, but never, despite its library setting, was it quiet.

Last night's “Question Time"- style debate at Bolton Central Library, saw a panel of politicians address campaigners’ concerns over the proposed closure of five Bolton libraries.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Cliff Morris maintained he would rather not cut a single public service, but faced with having to find £60 million of savings, he said he had to make “tough decisions”.

He told the meeting: “Reviewing the library network was not a decision that was taken lightly.”

More than 100 people packed into the lecture theatre in Le Mans Crescent directly underneath the 139,763 books in Bolton Central Library.

The meeting, chaired by The Bolton News’ deputy editor Lynn Ashwell, was organised by the Save Bolton Libraries Campaign.

Ian McHugh, secretary of the campaign, said his group was a “broad alliance”, with 15,000 people who signed petitions in all the main political parties represented at the meeting. He added: “We ask the council to recognise the strength of public opinion and leave the libraries alone.”

The Lib Dem deputy leader Cllr David Wilkinson told the meeting: “Some reductions have to be made, that was agreed months ago.”

Tory leader Cllr John Walsh has already put forward proposals for charitable trusts to take over the running of some libraries.

Cllr Walsh said: “I do not believe five libraries need to be closed.”

Cllr Morris admitted, when questioned, that he was not a library member. Cllr Walsh said his membership “may have lapsed.”

And Alan Johnson of Bolton's Green Party gave the same explanation.