A community group which uses Bury Library has voiced its concerns at proposals to install a sculpture centre there.

Bury Knit and Natter meets at the library every Monday, and is worried that the plans may mean the venue is no longer suitable for its needs.

Bury Council previously announced plans to locate the centre in the Bury Library, Museum and Art Gallery complex in Moss Street, which would affect the ground floor layout of the library, taking up two-thirds of the area.

The group offers people of all ages the chance to socialise, as well as knit.

Knit and Natter founder Cyndy Mayor-Talks, aged 74, of Dumers Lane, says she believes the plans are “ridiculous”, and that they will adversely affect the group. She said: “There probably wouldn’t be enough room for us, on a regular basis there are about 25 to 30.

“It is just ridiculous what the council is doing, this group is so important to those people, a lot of whom are widows.

“They have no support group at home and they rely on it to be able to come into town and save a social afternoon.”

An online petition against the sculpture centre has now reached over 200 signatures, and Sue Smith, of Gigg Lane, who set up the petition, says more than 600 signatures have been collected in a paper version.

She added: “We want the council to change its mind — the general consensus is that nobody wants this sculpture centre.”

The centre is set to open in May, 2014, and requires a one-off capital investment from Bury Council of £75,000, and has attracted a successful funding bid from Arts Council England of £27,000.

Cllr Jane Lewis, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and culture, previously said: “I understand that people may have concerns about change, but let me re-iterate what this is all about.

“While other councils are closing down their libraries, we are not. Despite huge funding cuts from the Government, we have managed to keep all 17 of our libraries open.

“However, these funding cuts mean we have to make changes in the way the library service is provided. We also need to adapt the library service in the light of changing demands and increasing computerisation.”

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