Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has thrown his weight behind the bid to save Welshpool Library, saying that he sympathises with the protesters who feel "the consultation carried out last year was a futile exercise”.
Mr George was one of several figures from across the political party spectrum to join the hundreds of people who marched through the town to Powysland Museum, the site where Powys County Council wants to co-locate the library service.
They say it is to allow staff to relocate from their Neuadd Maldwyn offices, which will be sold off to save money.
But campaigners say that they will fight the move to the end, and they can rely on the support of Mr George (pictured in grey suit).
“It is clear that the hundreds of residents that attended the march really value the Library Service,” he said. “I joined the march as I believe that such services hold great importance in our communities.
“People in Welshpool have just felt that the consultation carried out last year was a futile exercise.
“I fully realise that the council is under significant financial pressures and that once again, the Welsh Government Settlement means that Powys Council received the joint worst local government funding settlements of all 22 local authorities in Wales.
“I understand that because of this, difficult decisions need to be made. Nonetheless, that does not negate the importance of transparency when making such decisions and these decisions should take into account how residents value key services.
“I had the opportunity this week to speak in an Assembly debate on local government funding, and was able to use Welshpool library as an example of a valued service that is being effected due to unfair funding allocations to Mid and North Wales Councils who are seeing cuts to their budgets, whilst South Wales Councils are getting funding increases.”
Powys County Council has not commented since the march but is set to push ahead with its move, with work due to start on preparing the Museum on April 15.
PICTURE: Saturday's march courtesy of Colin Rogers