A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Keighley next week to debate cuts to the libraries and museums service.

The meeting – at the civic centre, in North Street, on Wednesday (Sept 18), at 7pm – has been organised by the Unite union, whose members last month voted in favour of strike action in a consultative ballot.

Bradford Council is carrying out a restructuring of its libraries in a bid to save cash, including the creation of a ‘hub’ at the Keighley site.

As part of the measures, a range of community health services could be provided in the North Street building.

The plans have sparked fears over the future of the library and its provision, although the local authority has given assurances that it will not close – a message reiterated last week by the town’s MP, John Grogan.

A Unite spokesman says: “Next week’s public meeting is an opportunity for all concerned parties to air their views.

“Given that the matter goes before the council’s regeneration and environment overview & scrutiny committee the following evening, it’s important the public has the chance to speak on the subject.”

Mr Grogan said he had spoken to council leader Susan Hinchcliffe about the library and was informed that it was staying open.

The council said savings were mainly around changes in management posts, a cut in the book fund to £298,300 per year, and the creation of ‘hub libraries’ including Keighley.