WEST Craven county councillor David Whipp has stepped up his campaign to save local libraries.

And now he is asking Lancashire County Council (LCC) to consider alternative ways of providing facilities across the county.

Cllr Whipp led a debate on the library service at LCC's annual meeting.

“I plead with the county council’s administration to be more open to alternative models of service delivery,” said Cllr Whipp. “It’s possible to have libraries in far more communities.”

Referring to libraries in Pendle, which face the axe through austerity cuts, Cllr Whipp added: “Libraries in Earby, Trawden, Barrowford and Brierfield would be lost. This is not a comprehensive library service. It’s possible to have libraries in these communities with volunteer-supported services.”

Following the debate, Cllr Whipp won support for a proposal from Pendle Council, which called upon the county council “to urgently explore opportunities for volunteer-supported library services” at Barrowford, Brierfield, Earby and Trawden.

After the meeting, Cllr Whipp said: “There’s huge support across Pendle to keep library services in our communities, and a willingness to look at different ways of making this possible. There are practical proposals to keep library facilities in both Earby and Trawden, and the same is possible in Barrowford and Brierfield.

“We should learn from the good examples in neighbouring areas, such as Addingham, where volunteer-run facilities are thriving. It’s crucial Lancashire includes such ideas in its thinking to avoid mass library closures.”

Potential volunteers can contact him via e-mail at david.whipp@dsl.pipex.com, by calling 01282 666777 or through facebook.