Moray SNP Education Spokesperson Incredulous at Council's Crass Action

The Opposition SNP Education Spokesperson in The Moray Council, Cllr Mike Shand, has expressed incredulity at the Local Authority’s statement only a day after announcing the closure of seven libraries, that March is designated ‘libraries month in Moray to help showcase the range of services available in local libraries’.

SNP Opposition Spokesperson on Education, Cllr Mike Shand, said:

Ward 6

Elgin City North

"With the swingeing effects of this week’s Moray Council budget becoming more and more apparent, the people of Moray might be questioning whether or not the Tory/Independent Administration councillors really live in the same area.

“Despite pleas from communities, and despite evidence from the much-lauded communication workshops held throughout Moray, the Administration took the axe to almost half of Moray’s libraries. They devastated a library service that was one of the top performing in Scotland.

"A mere two days after that act of Philistine vandalism, the Tory/Independent administration has announced that March is to be designated as ‘libraries month’, supposedly to showcase the range of services available in our local libraries. You just could not make it up! The question is not ‘does this Administration live in the same area?’ It’s really, do they live on the same planet as the rest of us?

"The thirteen Administration councillors who took the decision to remove all library services from Burghead, Cullen, Dufftown, Findochty, Hopeman, Portknockie and Rothes now want those communities to celebrate reading. A sick joke on those communities."