LIBRARY campaigners in Church Stretton have left Shropshire Council with a petition containing more than 1,000 names and a simple message

That is leave the library where it is in the town centre and not to move it to the secondary school.

Six Church Stretton residents from the library support group travelled to Shirehall to hand over the 1,100 signature petition.

A petition of this size triggers a Shropshire Council procedure allowing one of the campaign group to make a presentation at a full council meeting in Shrewsbury.

The petition wording could not be simpler and reads 'Keep our library where it is'.

"Our message to Shropshire Council is clear, simple and overwhelmingly supported by Church Stretton residents,” said Felicity Thomas of the Church Stretton Library Support Group.

“One thousand and one hundred people, so far, have signed the petition and more than 200 turned up at the public meeting.

“The message is keep our library where it is. We expect our councillors to respect the will of the people.”

Shropshire Council has said that it wants to provide the best possible library service with the money available.

“We fully recognise the value and importance of our libraries, and this is why we are absolutely committed to ensuring they continue to remain at the heart of local communities,” said Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member responsible for libraries.

“However we are in a position that we have address a library funding gap of £1.3 million.”