THE final chapter in the fight to save Bolton’s libraries has revealed today that there will be no happy ending.

It was in January of this year that library closures were first mooted by Bolton Council, to a predictable public outcry.

As many as nine libraries were placed at risk, with only the township libraries — Bolton, Farnworth, Westhoughton, Horwich, Blackrod and Little Lever — declared safe.

But faced with having to make widespread cuts to public services —£60 million in two years—due to a huge reduction in money received from central Government, the council had little choice but to wield the axe.

There swiftly followed the setting up of the Save Bolton Libraries Campaign, uniting residents across Bolton fighting for their own local library.

In Bromley Cross, 4,000 signatures were collected. Petitions were also organised at every other library.

The campaign swelled and a 15,000-strong petition was eventually handed in to Town Hall chiefs in May.

In July, the results of the review were discussed by the council’s full executive.

Faced with three options, the executive approved option one, a proposal to close five libraries, but extend opening hours at Bolton Central Library.

Often forgotten in the fight to save the libraries are the staff whose jobs have been placed at risk.

Options two and three would have seen no libraries closed, but opening hours slashed and more jobs lost — the equivalent of 19 full-time positions.

The favoured option one still means job losses — 13 full-time positions.

Campaigners, however, have rejected all three options, and called on the council to find another way to keep all the town’s libraries open and running.In September, the Tories in Bolton put forward proposals for charitable trusts to be set up to run under-threat libraries.

Conservative leader Cllr John Walsh called for area forum budgets to be slashed by £200,000 to pay for libraries for a year, while trusts and volunteer workers were organised.

But his proposals were voted down at a meeting of the full council later that month.

As the consultation came to a close, the future of libraries in the town was debated one last time, in a Question Time-style debate at Bolton Central Library.

Council chief executive Sean Harriss and party leaders answered questions from an often angry audience.

Council leader Cliff Morris told the meeting that the council would take on board their concerns and the results of the public consultation.

But ultimately, it appears campaigners’ biggest fears have now been realised.