ALL four parties on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council have joined forces to join the campaign to keep Basingstoke's libraries open.

In an open letter to Councillor Keith Mans, leader of Hampshire County Council, Cllr Ken Rhatigan (Con), Cllr Andy McCormick (Lab), Cllr Gavin James (Lib Dems) and Cllr Ian Tilbury (Basingstoke and Deane Independent Group) have called on HCC to ensure they are "appropriately advised" on the context and financial opportunities from the review.

They called out the "lack of direct political engagement with borough councillors" around the consultation, and questioned their "in-depth understanding of the role of these facilities in their communities".

As previously reported, in the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council area, Chineham and South Ham libraries are threatened with closure, whilst Kingsclere Community library could close should support be withdrawn.

The letter continued: "South Ham is an area of significant social housing and relative deprivation and the library's role as a hub in promoting community resilience cannot be overstated, in the context of early intervention and prevention.

"Chineham is a dynamic and vibrant suburb, popular with families, the centre of which is undergoing dynamic development and growth which creates a range of opportunities for investment in community facilities.

"From the consultation approach to date it is not clear that there has been the depth of engagement to understand the local context within which the libraries are situated, the negative impact of increasing the need for car journeys in the context of all responsible public bodies seeking to reduce carbon emissions, nor alternative financial opportunities that could be explored having regard to the investment plans of third parties locally."

It comes after the Gazette has reported on the massive public outpouring of support for the town's libraries, setting up its campaign to save the facilities in South Ham and Chineham, as well as Odiham library in Hart.

This newspaper reported previously how Cllr Sean Woodward, who will be making the decision for HCC, has said that a number of compromise solutions could be found, including saving Chineham from the cut.

There are just 20 days to go until the consultation on the future of Hampshire's library service closes. To have your say, go to: https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/haveyoursay/consultations/library-consultation.