A LEADING councillor has hit back at an MP’s condemnation of its decision to put Whalley Library back up up for sale.

Lancashire County Council’s culture boss Cllr Marcus Johnstone was accused of 'being hasty' by Ribble Valley Conservative Nigel Evans.

The county cabinet member for cultural services said: “When the libraries minister came, we agreed to delay putting Whalley Library on the market in the hope a community group would express an interest.

“In other parts of Lancashire, community groups are being assisted to take over the running of libraries.

“Unfortunately we have had no expression of interest from the community in Whalley, despite extending our deadline.

“In the circumstances, we have no alternative other than to put the building back on the market.

“It is simply not possible to sit back and do nothing.

"This is a classic case of the Tories campaigning against their own cuts.

“I have no desire to close any libraries."