Libraries in some of the most remote communities could close as a result of Highland Council’s continuing budget crisis, it has emerged.
A list of 17 has surfaced in response to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request from a concerned reader.
Names of potential closures have been released for the first time as a region-wide public consultation on the authority’s entire budget proposals for the next few years continues.
The exercise is to gauge public thinking on a wide range of possible service cuts aimed at clawing back millions of pounds.
Having already agreed £23million of overall savings, the council is in search of a further £36million.
The consultation will run until the end of June at which stage the 80 councillors will resume their deliberations. Libraries, swimming pools and museums are among services that could take a hit.
Responding to the FoI request, head of community learning and leisure Ian Murray confirmed yesterday that council officers had identified libraries at Plockton, Caol, Invergordon, Helmsdale, Ardersier and Beauly for possible closures that would save around £94,000.
The closure of 11 others – Bettyhill, Knoydart, Achiltibuie, Lochcarron, Cromarty, Golspie, Lairg, Broadford, Mallaig, Bonar Bridge and Muir of Ord – would save almost £100,000.
And in search of a total £666,000 saving within the libraries budget, a “large library” is being considered for closure leaving libraries in Inverness, Culloden and Wick in the frame.
The woman who submitted the FoI request did not wish to be identified. She said she sought the information because she felt communities should be aware of which libraries are threatened in order to have a proper opportunity to respond to the consultation. Councillors were, until now, unaware of the names on the list.
Mr Murray said it may be that no library closes if savings are found elsewhere, but if there are closures it would be likely that mobile libraries would replace the static ones. He said: “If the full saving is required there is no doubt this would be a fairly significant reduction in service. However, the council is, of course, committed to trying to minimise that through methods such as the use of a mobile library service to the more remote areas.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government said: “The provision of local library services is a matter for individual local authorities.
“We have maintained our pledge to increase local government’s share of the overall Scottish budget, year on year, although funding for councils in 2010-11 would have been £174million higher had it not been for the Westminster-imposed reduction in our budget.” As well as a series of local ward forum debates, the council’s consultation is online at www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/blog/