A PETITION containing almost 7,000 heartfelt pleas to Darlington Borough Council was handed over yesterday (Tuesday, May 31).

The Northern Echo’s campaign to save Crown Street Library has garnered support from across the world, with thousands urging the authority to reconsider contentious cuts to library services.

The council's recent budget proposals suggest axing Darlington’s Cockerton and mobile library and controversially transferring resources from the historic Crown Street Library to The Dolphin Centre.

Council officers believe the move would save the authority £300,000 and help to sustain the library services and the leisure centre.

Recent months have seen campaigners beg DBC to consider detailed, alternative plans drawn up by Darlington for Culture, while best-selling authors Anne Fine, Philippa Gregory and Gervase Phinn have joined library users, school children and councillors in signing the Echo’s petition.

To mark the end of the council’s public consultation period, thousands of signatures, moving letters and poignant pleas were handed over to Cllr Nick Wallis yesterday.

Cllr Wallis acknowledged the public outcry and strength of feeling surrounding library cuts while saying it would be “insane” to ignore the 6,420 strong petition.

Pledging to give the responses careful consideration, he said: “It’s encouraging that so many people have been involved in this consultation on the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.

“Some things are going to be lost and I’m afraid it remains the case that we still have to save £12 million between now and 2020.

“There are a great many difficult decisions the council has to take by this summer, not just regarding the library but services for the most vulnerable people in society.

“We will consider these responses as we will consider all responses received and hopefully come to the best decision for the town in what are tremendously difficult circumstances.”

Cllr Wallis confirmed officers were currently studying Darlington for Culture’s detailed and costed plan to save Crown Street Library and Cockerton Library by establishing a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) to run the two facilities in conjunction with the community.

He said: “I understand the strength of feeling about the building and what it represents.

“We will look fairly and transparently at the plans and see whether it is possible to save that £330,000 with the library remaining at Crown Street.”