A FURIOUS Holly Hall single mum has blasted plans to shut Woodside library claiming it will be an historical loss to the community.

Helen Rich and seven-year-old son Luke, of Surrey Road, are regular users of the site and she says he will loses a vital educational lifeline when the site shuts.

As she does not have a computer at home, Highgate Primary pupil Luke would often use the library, given to the public by the Earl of Dudley, after school.

The axe finally fell down on Woodside, Dudley Wood, Quarry Bank, Wall Heath and Amblecote libraries at a special council meeting last week, despite reservations from residents.

Angry Helen has even written to the Queen and Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a bid to curb the closure plans.

She said: "I'm very angry about it.

"Luke is sad that his library is going to shut. We don't have a computer at home.

"It's the community that is losing yet another thing.

"Closing the library will affect the children's education.

"Woodside is a community that gets shoved under the carpet. It will have a knock-on effect for near-by shops as well. The building has been allowed to get in to disrepair.

"The building is historical, it was given to the public by by the Earl of Dudley. The council are taking away his memory.

"I don't want to accept it."

PLEDGE OVER EARL'S LEGACY

A DEFIANT Netherton councillor vowed residents will fight the closure and "not let the bulldozers in" at Woodside library.

Councillor Mahbubur Rahman is "disappointed" the Stourbridge Road site has been earmarked for the axe and vowed to The building, more than 110 years old, is protected by a deed of covernant after being given to residents for public use by the Earl of Dudley.

Cllr Rahman hopes this historical agreement might be enough of a legal loophole to halt future council plans to sell off or demolish the site.

He said: "It's absolutely sad.

"Residents are still not happy. We're disappointed the council has not listened to local people.

"We're working hard not to let the bulldozers in.

"We're disappointed, however, we hope the covernant will put a spanner in the works if the council decide to sell the building or demolish it.

"We owe it to the Earl of Dudley to keeop the building open.

"We will call another public meeting. Some residents have expressed an interest in forming a group.

"Residents have said Woodside library is not just a local library but it is a centre of informal support and therapeutic environment for many elderly and young families.

"It's a key service in the area. Woodside and Holly Hall areas require regeneration not demolition."

DEBATE HOTS UP

DUDLEY Council will continue with controversial library closure plans despite fierce opposition from angry residents and councillors.

A decision to shelve five libraries including Woodside, Dudley Wood and Quarry Bank, was condemned as "an insult" by Quarry Bank councillor Brian Cotterill during a heated debate at a select committee meeting.

The meeting, of the regeneration, culture and adult education committee, was called to examine the decision by the council cabinet to axe libraries, which bosses argue are no longer viable.

Members of the public told the committee how important the libraries are to their communities, especially children and the elderly.

Speaking at last Wednesday's (October 25) meeting, Brian Genner, defending Quarry Bank Library said: "Enough is enough, take this away and we are mortgaging the education and future of our children."

Cllr Dave Tyler slammed the statistics used to calculate which libraries should go as "flawed", claiming figures on library user numbers from 1998 were incorrect by 10,000 due to a typing error.

Linda Sanders, director of adult, community and housing services, hit back insisting decisions were based on robust information and the figures councillor Tyler was referring to were gathered before her department took control of libraries.

She said: "Libraries matter in Dudley and the plans make the best use of resources, sometimes you have to cut your losses."

Cllr Michael Evans, cabinet member for housing and community services, said: "We have to satisfy the majority of the people not the few, facilities will still be there.

"We are not talking about closing we are talking about putting an alternative service in, this is the right way to address this."

The Dudley select commitee voted by a majority of one to support the library reorganisation, with a recommendation no libraries close until alternative facilities are in place.