THE veracity of Bolton Council’s review of the town’s library service has been called into ques- tion by the Bolton and District Civic Trust.

The Trust believes the council has got its fig- ures wrong in calculat- ing the time it will take residents to travel to their nearest library.

The council plans to axe five libraries — Ast- ley Bridge, Heaton, Oxford Grove, Highfield and Castle Hill — although Heaton will be retained as a communi- ty building and chil- dren’s centre.

Richard Shirres, vice chairman of the Trust, wrote to the council before its libraries review was published and again this week, to express his concerns.

He said: “My view is that Bolton Council could have done a much more thorough job in its equality impact assess- ment.

“Access to the library service is very impor- tant. If people have to will be based at the Old- hams Children’s Cen- tre, Astley Bridge; Tonge Moor UCAN; the Heaton library build- ing; the Orchards in Farnworth; well UCAN. A special the council tive, which and Halli- meeting of full execu- is open to Sean Harriss make a long walk or public transport jour- ney then they may decide not to do that.

“We really need to raise standards in Bolton and Bolton Council say that them- selves.”

Neighbourhood col- lections will replace the five axed libraries and the public, will be held in the Festival Hall, at 10am, next Wednesday, when the eight mem- bers of the Labour exec- utive are expected to rubber stamp the pro- posals. A protest will be held outside the town hall on the same day by the Save Bolton Libraries Campaign, starting at 9.15am.

Council chief execu- tive Sean Harriss said: “We have assessed all the information that the civic trust has present- ed and have responded appropriately in the report. We stand by our own information and analysis and believe it is appropriate and cor- rect.

“There will be a detailed response to their latest letter to explain our position.

“We will also ensure councillors receive the letter and our response to it.”