Brierfield’s Council Shop axe is ‘the final nail’ (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

Brierfield’s Council Shop axe is ‘the final nail’

12:30pm Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

THE closure of Brierfield’s Council Shop has been described as the “final nail in the coffin” for the town.

Coun Naeem Ashraf said the closure of the facility meant the town was being “left to rot” by Conservative and Lib Dem-run Pendle Council.

But borough leader Joe Cooney hit back at the claims and said services such as the ability to make council payments and get information on council services would still be avail- able in Brierfield.

Coun Ashraf said: “This is the final nail in the coffin for Brierfield. We have no banks left and now we have no Council Shop. We are being left to rot.

“The Labour group put forward a budget which would have seen Brierfield and Earby’s Council Shops stay open part-time.

“But it was decided to keep Earby’s open almost full-time and close Brierfield’s.

“This is a politically-motivated decision. There is only one Conservative or Lib Dem councillor in Brierfield and Reedley – they don’t care about us.

“The Council Shop was well used, especially by elderly residents, and I know a lot of people are very unhappy at the closure.”

Coun Cooney said the decision to close Brierfield was made after a 12-week closure for refurb- ishment last year pro- duced no complaints.

He said: “The Council Shop was closed for 12 weeks when work was being carried out at the town hall.

“During that time there was information available in the library and payments can be made at four or five shops in Brierfield using the Allpay system.

“In that period there was not one complaint from ward councillors or residents. The services are still available in Brierfield, just not in the Council Shop now.

“Each Council Shop operates differently and each is reviewed on its own. This is a sensible approach to the savings we have to make.”