MORE than 10,000 people have signed a petition against library cuts – double the number of names needed in a petition to trigger an open debate.

Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries braved snowstorms and icy pavements countywide, including Forest towns, to collect signatures calling for an independent review into proposed library service cuts of 43 per cent.

They presented their petition, and a separate petition of 1,200 names from Cinderford Library campaigners, to the county council's scrutiny officer at Gloucester's Shire Hall yesterday afternoon.

The cuts could see 11 libraries close, including Cinderford, Bream, Mitcheldean, Newnham and the mobile library, unless volunteers from the community step in.

Councillors are now obliged to have a 15-minute debate on the petition at the full council meeting on January 19.

Cinderford campaigners will protest at the Belle Vue Centre on January 14, and January 24 between 1pm and 2pm. The second date coincides with county chiefs inviting users at the Belle Vue Road library to 'tell us your views'.

The county petition can be signed online until February 17 at http://glostext.gloucestershire.gov">http://glostext.gloucestershire.gov. uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=8