A LIBRARY will close for good next month after a campaign to keep it open failed.
Bagillt Library was earmarked for closure by Flintshire Council along with the Garden City and Gwernymynydd libraries after cuts of £10 million were made in its 2011-12 budget.
Hopes were raised that Bagillt Community Council may step in and help to keep it open but a consultation with residents showed a lack of support for a community takeover.
The community council has now voted against taking over the library.
“We were determined to try and save it but financially it would have been too much of a burden,” said chairman of Bagillt Community Council Kevin Jones.
The community council delivered questionnaires around the village asking people for their thoughts on the takeover, which would see residents each pay about £8 extra a year in local rates to cover the cost .
But just over 160 forms were returned, 5.5 per cent of those issued.
Of those who did return their forms, 34 said they did not support the community council funding the running costs of the library and five abstained from answering.
“The response was a disappointment,” said Cllr Jones.
“If we had a massive response in support that would have at least have given us an idea that maybe it would be worth spending more money on it.”
Cllr Jones is now fearful the library, which has already been vandalised twice this year, will be targeted even more once it is closed. In June staff discovered two large windows and plant pots had been smashed and in July yobs smashed three windows and damaged the front door.
“The moment it’s boarded up it’s going to draw attention to vandals,” said Cllr Jones.
He added the latest figures for the library showed around 500 books were taken out each month.
“It was well used over the summer,” said Cllr Jones.
A spokesman for Flintshire Council said the library would be closing on November 29.