Libraries and leisure centres axed

Leisure centres, libraries and public toilets will be closed as a result of government efforts to save £110million in the next financial year

The UK is set to feel the pinch again from government spending cuts, which will see the closure of swimming pools, youth centres and libraries over the next year in a bid to save £110million.

In Manchester, all public conveniences except one face closure, along with three leisure centres, two swimming pools and five libraries as the council seek to cut back on 25% of public spending.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Labour-run Manchester City Council, says: ‘Putting this budget together has involved the most difficult, and in many ways most unpalatable process I have been involved in since I was first elected to the council.

‘Manchester is the fourth most deprived local authority area in the country but is among the top five hardest hit local authorities.’

Nationwide, 100 of the 370 local councils have announced their spending plans for the next financial year, with many facing difficult decisions. In East Sussex yesterday, the council announced cuts of £37million including jobs and children’s services, while Wakefield council has announced compulsory redundancies by 2015.

Birmingham City Council has proposed to cut its workforce by a third and Union activists have began demonstrations outside Surrey County Council offices where Unison are campaigning that the proposed £200million cuts would ‘slash services’.

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