Questions have been raised about banners used in a campaign to reopen an historic Wigan library
A former Wigan mayor has questioned why banners he believes are “political” have been displayed outside a library at the centre of a campaign to reopen it.
Ashton Library shut in July 2024 as extensive repairs are needed to the grade II-listed building.
Coun Danny Fletcher previously said he believed the repairs would cost more than Wigan Council had budgeted for and Ashton and Bryn councillors – both Labour and independent – are campaigning to reopen the library.
Red banners were placed on the building featuring the words “save our library” along with “Josh Simons MP and your local councillors”.
But Michael Winstanley, a former councillor and chairman of Wigan Conservative Federation, has questioned whether the banners should be there.
He said: “Recent events have drawn attention to the presence of political banners at Ashton Library and on nearby safety railings. These displays are situated on council-owned property and have prompted enquiries from local residents regarding the appropriateness and governance of such activities.”
He wrote to Wigan Council’s chief executive Alison McKenzie-Folan asking about the policy for political banners and if it had changed.
He wanted to know if the council authorised these banners and whether they would be removed if they contravened council policy.
Mr Winstanley added that he was sympathetic to the campaign to keep the library open and previously ran a similar one in Orrell.
A council spokesman said: “The council will be responding directly to Mr Winstanley to confirm that our policy regarding the display of banners on public property has not changed and we will be contacting representatives of the cross-party library campaign group to discuss this further.”
Mr Winstanley told the Observer the council informed him the banners will be removed in coming weeks.
Makerfield’s Labour MP Mr Simons said: "This is a community campaign to save a beloved library. Over the past few months, thousands of people across Ashton and Bryn have signed the petition, attended community meetings and written online in support of the campaign. Local residents are desperate to find a way to save the library and preserve an essential community service.
"As the elected MP for the area, I am leading a cross-party campaign to secure the funds to save it. There is nothing I won't do to make that happen."