BOLTON’S Tory chiefs are to hold a public meeting on the future of Astley Bridge library next week.

Ward councillors John Walsh, Hilary Fairclough and Paul Wild have called the special meeting next Thursday to encourage residents to put forward ideas on how to save the underthreat branch.

Astley Bridge library is one of five which Bolton Council has earmarked for closure, in a bid to save £400,000.

Cllr Walsh, leader of the Conservative group, said: “We feel that if we think outside the box, be bold and be innovative then there are ways of keeping Astley Bridge library open. A library in Astley Bridge, at the very heart of the community, is essential.”

The other libraries set for the axe are Highfield, Oxford Grove, Heaton and Castle Hill with the council’s current proposal being to replace them with neighbourhood collection points.

The Astley Bridge one will feature a selection of just 300 books, which the council say will be matched to borrowing data collected from the existing library.

But Cllr Fairclough said: “It is ludicrous to get rid of a library in Astley Bridge.

There were 26,500 visits last year and the alternative is allowing people to choose from just 300 books.”

The Tory group are also looking to put forward “fully costed” ideas on how the council can make the savings required, without closing the libraries.

Cllr Walsh said: “We will be meeting the council next week and putting forward our ideas and we hope they will listen.

“The point of the meeting next week is to allow us to put together a comprehensive Astley Bridge response to the consultation. This is not about us as three ward councillors, this is about Astley Bridge as a whole.”

The public meeting takes place at Astley Bridge library, in Moss Bank Way, on Thursday, August 25, starting at 7.30pm.