No inquiry into Isle of Wight library closures confirmed

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, Ed Vaizey MP, has written to leader of the Isle of Wight council, Cllr Ian Stephens, to confirm that an inquiry into the library closures on the Isle of Wight will not be carried out.

Ed Vaizey:Readers will remember that Mr Vaizey declared back in September 2012 that he was “not minded to direct a local inquiry”.

A week later he advised that he would extend the deadline for members of the public to have their say.

Critical rebuttal of council leader’s evidence
Friends of Isle of Wight Libraries took the opportunity to set out their concerns and former Ethics and Standards Committee member, Keith Fagan made public a critical rebuttal of then-council leader David Pugh’s evidence to the DCMS.

Considered responses
In the letter to Cllr Stephens, Mr Vaizey confirms that Secretary of State, Maria Miller MP, has taken into account representations by the former leader and Friends of Isle of Wight Libraries and will not be conducting an inquiry.

Thanks to the readers who sent this to us at the weekend.


Image: © Ed Vaizey