Council votes through £6m second round of cuts

Two libraries set to close as a result of decision

TWO libraries are set to close and car parking charges will increase after West Berkshire Council approved its £6m second round of cuts last night (Thurs).

Before last night's meeting, campaigners stages protests outside the council offices in Market Street and held up banners emblazoned with the words 'save our services'.

But those appeals fell on deaf ears as the district council voted in favour of the plans.

Deputy leader Graham Jones said none of the councillors wanted to make the cuts but stressed that there were "no alternatives".

He added that "never in his time as councillor did he think he'd see cuts like this" but said he recognised the need to reduce the national deficit and didn't want "our children to pick up the mess we've left".

However, in a small piece of good news on a night of gloom, the council voted in favour of using £1m of transitional funding to allow some services a temporary 'lifeline'.

For more coverage, including all the reaction, see next week's Newbury Weekly News.