BURLEY Parish Council is considering a proposal to take over the running of the village library, as Bradford Council looks to communities to take over libraries across the district.

Bradford Council is planning to reduce their expenditure across their library network by more than £200,000 from April 2017. To do this they are looking to increase the numbers of libraries managed by local communities, and with a few exceptions, it has been decided to extend community management across the rest of the library network.

This now includes libraries in Burley-in-Wharfedale and Menston.

Addingham, just a few miles up the valley, became the first community-run library in the Bradford District several years ago.

Burley Parish Council says comparable communities have around 12 to15 people running similar services and even with reduced opening hours, the staff cost alone is unlikely to be less than £10,000 per year, or an extra £3 approximately for every household in the village

The Parish Council Bradford Council has offered to provide the lease of the building on Grange Road, the transfer of the existing stock of books and computers, new books on a regular basis, payment of energy and business rates, access to a repairs and improvement fund, and training for volunteers, if the library is transferred to the community.

The Parish Council is encouraging villages to contact the parish clerk with their views, as well as come forward if they would like to volunteer, or contribute any ideas for additional uses for the building.

Contact clerk@burleyparishcouncil.co.uk or call (01943) 864728.