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Archive for January, 2008

Library Opening Hours Cut

3rd January 2008 - Andrew McLean
Protest against cuts in library opening hours
Lyme Regis residents campaigning against plans to cut opening times by six and a half hours a week!

As well as closing Day Care Centres the Conservative-run County Council has announced plans to cut the opening hours of EVERY LIBRARY!

One that is particularly hard hit is Lyme Regis. At present the library is open for twenty six and a half hours a week but the County Council wants to cut this by a total of six and a half hours to reduce it to just twenty hours!

“They want to close our library for nearly a quarter of the time that it’s currently open for,” says local campaigner Chris Savory. “This is a disaster for all library users.”

“To make matters worse the new opening hours are different every day which will make it harder to remember when the library is open,” added Chris. “These proposals can only lead to confusion and even fewer people using the library. Maybe that’s what they want and then they can make even bigger cuts!”

Lib Dem Councillors have pledged to lead the fight against all of these proposed cuts.

“Two years ago the Conservatives attempted to close 13 libraries altogether,” added Chris Savory. “The Lib Dems and local campaigners led a massive campaign of opposition and we won. We will repeat this and stop these cuts again.”

No to Cuts in Care Services!

2nd January 2008 - Andrew McLean
Protest against cuts in care services
Lib Dem County Councillors, carers and staff protesting outside County Hall against the proposals to close Day Care Centres across the county.

Lib Dem Councillors are battling to save local Day Care Centres and other vital care services from closure.

“This is the second round of cuts in just over two years,” said Dorchester Councillor Richard Biggs. “In 2006 the County Council withdrew free home care and day care centre support for many who are in need. This latest round of cuts will hit the vulnerable and their carers even more.”

These cuts are designed to save just £600,000 - but the County Council has already spent £750,000 on consultants this year alone!

“The Conservatives who run County Hall have got the wrong priorities,” added Bridport Councillor Karl Wallace. “They are wasting too much on consultants and bureaucracy instead of saving front-line services. The result is that those who are in need will suffer.”