HARROGATE’S MP has spoken of fears for the future of libraries in his constituency, if plans for more to become community run are pushed through.

Andrew Jones has asked North Yorkshire County Council to promise that if moving Knaresborough, Starbeck and Boroughbridge libraries into community operation, the facilities will not be closed.

Although nearby Bilton and Woodfield are successfully being run by the community, the MP has raised concerns the model may not work in the other venues.

He added: “I realise that local arrangements sometimes change and that the County Council has responsibility for this area. But the drive to save cash – which I do understand - should not be used as a reason to shuffle the libraries off into an unsustainable model which could eventually lead to their closure.”