OFFICIAL questions about the effect of the proposed closure of eleven of Wirral’s libraries have finally begun.

Policy consultant Sue Charteris, appointed by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham to review Wirral Council’s decision and the way in which it consulted on its plans, visited all the libraries during last Thursday and Friday.

She met up with staff, users and action groups to hear them make their case for keeping the libraries, along with their views of the council’s consultation over the closures.

Her role is to find out if those closures are in line with the council's statutory duties.

The planned closures are part of Wirral Council's review of leisure services, itself a part of the wider “strategic asset review” which will see over twenty village halls and community centres lose staff and funding.

They are being cut adrift from council control along with Pacific Road Arts Centre, the Wirral Museum at the former Birkenhead Town Hall - which is now up for sale - and Grange Road West and Leasowe Leisure Centres.

Mr Burnham stepped in less than 24 hours before the first library was due to shut.

Under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964, councils are required to provide a "comprehensive and efficient" library service.

If the council is found to be falling short of its duties, the inquiry will recommend steps to rectify the situation.

The local inquiry begins on 9 June at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton.

Under the council's leisure services review Birkenhead town hall was put up for sale at the beginning of May.

At Hoylake library, Ms Charteris was met by dozens of library supporters of all ages and handed a dossier by local campaigners Barbara Kirby and Liz Webster.

“We were really pleased to have the opportunity to speak with Ms Chateris,” they told the Globe.

“We were able to raise with her the many concerns of Hoylake and Meols residents who want our library to remain in the heart of our town where it belongs.

“We have formally submitted a dossier on Hoylake library, which has now been served as a statement of case for the Wirral library inquiry.”