LIBRARY supporters have slammed a decision to spend £10,000 on another consultation into Swindon Council’s library services.

The Museum, Libraries and Archives Council has commissioned Bristol-based consultants, ERS, to carry out a review of the service and its budgetary options.

The MLA will pay £8,000, with Swindon Council providing £2,000.

The council is aiming to save £100,000 from its library budget in 2009/10, and is consulting over the possible closures of Old Town, Even Swindon and Gorse Hill libraries.

Old Town library campaigner Shirley Burnham said: “The council has put the cart before the horse in their handling of libraries.

“The consultation should have taken place before the decision was taken in February, there should have been a proper library plan before the decision was taken.

“Why is £10,000 being spent on another consultant, when they already had one for free and when other distinguished people have offered their help, also for free, from other councils?

“We mustn’t pre-judge the consultants because I’m sure they will do a thorough job.

“I looked on their website and they clearly do a lot of public sector work but they don’t seem to have had much experience with libraries.”

Library supporter Desmond Clarke also raised his concerns that another consultation process was being carried out and called for immediate action instead.

He said: “We have had one consultants’ report which the MLA said that they could not disprove its conclusions, offers of help from three other library authorities, a public meeting, two consultation meetings and masses of media coverage.

“The local campaign to save the library has been raised with the Prime Minister and other ministers and a complaint has been submitted to the Ombudsman.

The previous lead member responsible for libraries has been axed from the council’s cabinet.

Today is the final day for residents to have their say in the current round of consultation by emailing ajordan@swindon.

gov.uk.