Newport Town Council to hold emergency meeting over threat to library

The council will hold the meeting next week to discuss what it plans to do after the borough council's budget announcement.

Telford & Wrekin Council announced its 2016 budget earlier this month, where it stated it needs to make £30 million worth of savings in the next two years.

In Newport the library, market and two children's playgrounds could be cut.

However, the town council agreed at a meeting this week to hold an emergency meeting to discuss what it plans to do.

Newport Town Mayor, Timothy Nelson said this is a time for the council to put their "negotiating heads on".

He said: "Telford & Wrekin Council takes enough out of Newport – but to take our library away from us is just wrong.

"That might not cut much ice but we will be in negotiation and I would urge you all to get your negation heads on.

"We will drive the best bargain we possibly can."

The emergency meeting is being held next Wednesday ahead of the Telford & Wrekin Council Parish Forum on February 4.

The town council will then present its plans from the emergency to the forum.

Conservative town and borough councillor Eric Carter said: "People in Newport feel strongly about the library and many do not want to see it go."

"I have been in touch with the borough council and I have had details about all the libraries and their costs.

"Newport Library is not owned by Telford & Wrekin Council, which the general public do not know, it is owned by Sanctuary Housing.

Councillor Phil Norton said: "If they close the library that would mean travelling to Telford. I believe we should be putting a proposal forward to keep our library.

"If we don't people will be travelling miles to get to their nearest library if ours shuts."