PRESSURE is growing on council leaders to release a top secret report into the borough’s controversial library closures.

For it has emerged this week that “senior members” of Wirral’s Labour and Liberal Democrat administration have read the document, which contains the fate of the borough’s 11 threatened libraries.

An email sent to veteran Wirral councillor Phil Gilchrist by the authority’s legal department says the report has been shared with a limited number of senior members of the administration.

And it adds: “Having regard to the need for absolute confidentiality and that this is a draft report... it would not be appropriate for there to be a wider distribution.”

Now Cllr Gilchrist is demanding town hall chiefs end the speculation and let the public in on the secret.

His call came at the same time as a letter sent to an MP by Under Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Barbara Follett, says “a clear perception” is being formed that the council failed to consult sufficiently on library closures.

Cllr Gilchrist said: “As the drip, drip, drip of various hints continues there is an overwhelming case for publication of the report.

“Ideally, this must be within days, not weeks, so the public have every right and opportunity to see what’s being done in their name.”

Wirral South MP Ben Chapman received the letter from Barbara Follett.

She wrote: “As you know, Ms (Sue) Charteris, who is leading the Inquiry into Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council’s proposed library closures has now considered all the evidence presented and is now finalising her report.

“Regrettably, a clear perception is emerging that the consultation in the Wirral has been insufficient, especially in the case of Eastham library.”

Wirral Council sparked a wave of controversy when it ruled that 11 libraries plus leisure centres, swimming pools and public halls should close. Eastham library was a surprise late addition to the closure list. A local inquiry was held in July and a top secret draft copy of the inspector’s report has been sent to Wirral Council and the DCMS for fact checking.

Mr Chapman said: “Eastham has indeed been given a rough deal and I am glad that this has been recognised by the department.

“I have made my feelings known on this particular aspect of the closures since it was first announced that Eastham was on the list.

“But there is, of course, the issue at Higher Bebington and New Ferry which are just as vital to those local communities.

"The campaign needs to continue and I will be seeking further clarification from the Secretary of State.

“But given the response to my letter, it baffles me further as to why the Local Government Ombudsman discontinued her inquiry”.

Liscard Conservative Cllr Leah Fraser said: "For a Junior Minister to comment, instead of the Secretary of State, suggests that there is going to be some criticism of the Labour-led council within the report.

"This perhaps explains why the leaders in the Town Hall have adopted a 'bunker' mentality and are refusing to release their copy of the report or comment on the findings of Sue Charteris.

"It is not acceptable that people in Seacombe and Wallasey Village, and users of the libraries across Wirral, are being kept dangling instead of being given the same access to the report."

A Wirral Council spokesman would only say the authority has been asked to maintain complete confidentiality regarding the contents of the draft report: "For this reason, we are unable to comment until an announcement is made by the Secretary of State.”