Kent County Council has today (Jan 23) put the brakes on plans it announced less than a week ago to sell off its libraries.

Deputy leader Peter Oakford last week told policy and resources committee members there are “far too many” library buildings.

Around one-third of the 99 in Kent were earmarked to be “disposed of”.

News of the announcement last Wednesday caused an instant cross-party backlash as well as a campaign to save the community assets.

Lead critic, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group, Cllr Antony Hook, said the decision to backtrack “shows the Conservative administration doesn’t know what it’s doing”.

In a statement designed to clarify Cllr Oakford’s announcement, Clair Bell, said: “Despite the unprecedented and well-documented financial pressures the council is facing, there are no plans currently underway to close libraries across the county.

“We are continuing, as we have in the past, to monitor and review KCC library services to ensure they are sustainable in the future, looking at all the options. For example, the potential for sharing premises with other services, such as post offices or adult education, as happens now in some locations.

“Building condition, maintenance costs and usage are all factors to consider, as is the spread of libraries across the county.

“We will explore some initial work with parish councils who have expressed interest in running a library, and how they might be supported to do so.

“Any changes to the library service would involve full public consultation. However, at present there are no proposals to reduce the number of libraries available to Kent residents.”

Cllr Hook said: “Just five days ago, the conservatives said there were too many libraries and they plan to axe them.

“Now they appear to be retreating.

“If our libraries are safe again that is good news.

“But it’s clearer than ever that the Conservative administration at KCC doesn’t know what it’s doing as well as not understanding what really matters.”