A MASS rally is being staged outside Bolton’s central library to protest against plans to close some of the borough’s other branches.

As revealed in The Bolton News, town hall bosses are to carry out a review of libraries, with a view to closing those which are underused or no longer fit for purpose.

It is thought the libraries in the townships — Bolton, Farnworth, Westhoughton, Horwich, Blackrod and Little Lever—will be safe.

But it means libraries in Breightmet, Astley Bridge, Bromley Cross, Heaton, High Street in Daubhill, Castle Hill, Tonge Moor, Oxford Grove in Halliwell, The Orchards in Farnworth and Harwood could all face the axe.

Martin Challender, of the Bolton Metro branch of Unison, said: “We want to send out a message of how important the library service is to Bolton, so we want as many people as possible to join us.

“Libraries are a universal service which benefits the whole community and in many communities they are the only public service.

“The cuts that were announced last year are suddenly becoming a reality and we need to lobby the politicians locally and nationally about them.”

The review has been ordered after it was revealed that Bolton Council must save £60 million over the next two years to balance the books.

Cllr Cliff Morris, leader of the council, said: “We have to look at all the options and mark the libraries on the various factors, including current footfall, geographic position, whether they are fit for purpose and the accessibility.

“We have difficult decisions to make and this is one of them.

Some of the buildings are not fit for purpose but I just do not have the money to invest in them.”

But he said those which remained open could get longer opening hours and offer more services.

The move to close libraries is expected to save the authority between £400,000 and £500,000 over the next two years, depending on how many libraries are closed.

The rally takes place outside the central library, in Le Mans Crescent, from 11am until 1pm on Saturday.