Perthshire Conservatives are delighted that a U-turn by Perth and Kinross Council will save five libraries in the region from closure.
MSPs Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith were reacting to the plan by Perth and Kinross Council which would see a £1 million rescue package be given to Culture Perth and Kinross, thus saving the libraries in Alyth, Auchterarder, Birnam, Comrie and Scone.
The proposal, which would mean £500,000 being given to the arms-length organisation this year and a further £500,00 supplied the following year, will be discussed at a Council meeting on February 26.
Commenting, Mr Fraser said: “We very much welcome this U-turn from Perth and Kinross Council. It is good to see all the campaigning from local communities has forced this U-turn from the SNP-run Council in Perth and Kinross.
“I was pleased to back the communities involved in the campaign to Save the Rural Libraries from the start along with Scottish Conservative colleagues. The planned closure of the libraries was a short-sighted move, prompted by funding cuts to local councils by the SNP Government.
“It is a great relief that the Council has seen common sense with this screeching U-turn, and I’m also pleased to know that they plan to involve local communities to look into ways to make libraries more sustainable in the future.”
And Liz Smith added: “I am delighted that Perth and Kinross Council has decided to provide much-needed funding to save these libraries. I know from speaking to some of the campaigners just how angry they felt about the proposed closure of the five rural libraries, so this move will be warmly welcomed by many residents.
“However, it must be remembered that it has taken months of campaigning by the community groups, which Scottish Conservative colleagues and I backed, to persuade the Council to think again on this matter.”
