Named: The 32 county councillors who blocked a bid to spare Northamptonshire's libraries from cuts

A protest gathered outside County Hall yesterday in support of Option Four.

Northamptonshire County Council has put forward three options for consultation on how the axe will fall on public libraries, all of which would close at least 21 of them.

The choices have been met with condemnation from Northamptonshire folk and opposition parties, who have defended them as "essential" community centres.

At a full county council meeting yesterday (November 23), a motion was put forward to introduce "option four" and offer the public the choice to ask for no cuts at all to libraries.

But it was defeated 32 to 10 against.

Today, Chronicle & Echo has published the 32 councillors who did not support giving the public a chance to say "no cuts to our libraries".

Sign the Chronicle & Echo's petition for the Government to review spending in Northamptonshire.Over a dozen members of the public, Northampton borough councillors and county councillors spoke at the meeting to appeal for "option four", including Northamptonshire author Sue Bentley.

Speaking against the option, councillor Sylvia Hughes said: "An option of 'do nothing' is not viable.

"Northamptonshire is one of the last county councils in the country to review their libraries."

Eight councillors who represent wards in Northampton, including cabinet members Andre Gonzalez De Savage, Matthew Golby and Mike Hallam, have been contacted for comment on why they voted no.