A CAMPAIGN to return a library to residents in Astley Bridge has been turned down.

Liberal Democrat campaigner Warren Fox has been leading a campaign over the last 18 months to bring back a library to residents in the town.

A petition was signed by almost 1,300 residents and presented to the Mayor of Bolton in May, calling for the Grade II listed chapel at Astley Bridge Cemetery to be converted into a library, local education centre and community cafe.

On October 18, Labour Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Councillor Nick Peel approved a response which stated “having previously conducted a review of library provision across the borough the council considers there is adequate library provision for the area and no need for investment to provide for additional provision.

“The petition proposal is therefore not considered a viable proposition for the council”.

The Bereavement Services Department had previously said that they had no use for the Grade II listed chapel and the council would sell it to an investor.

Mr Fox said: “Residents will understandably be angry at the council, which is denying residents access to decent basic services like a library.

“Some residents can’t just easily ‘nip’ to other areas because of cuts to bus services.

“Before the council closed the library in 2011 it had 25,000 visitors a year — yet they don’t think that is enough visitors to return a library to the area. It took a tremendous amount of pressure to get the council to re-roof the chapel 18 months ago, to make it weather proof, it’s almost like they’d rather see the building fall down than bring it back into use for the community.”