Campaigners fighting plans to move Lichfield Library say they are confident of forcing a u-turn.
Staffordshire County Council has drawn up plans to switch the facility to St Mary’s in the Market Square and convert The Friary into residential properties.
But a petition organised by the Lichfield and Burntwood branch of the Green Party has called for a public consultation on the proposals.
The 5,562 verified signatures means that the council will now need to debate the issue at a meeting on May 19.
Robert Pass, chair of Lichfield and Burntwood Green Party, said: “Quite simply, we believe that the council must agree to a new consultation on the future of Lichfield Library.
“They cannot ignore the strength of public feeling on the matter. Nor can they ignore the possible consequences of pressing ahead without consulting.
“The council seem to be trying to use their 2014 consultation on the whole of the Staffordshire library service as a mandate for downsizing and moving Lichfield Library, but, having taken legal advice, we believe that because the council consulted separately on moving the Lichfield Records Office there is a legitimate expectation, in law, of a fresh consultation on the future of the library itself.
“It’s even been suggested to us that failure to consult might, in fact, be deemed unlawful.”
The meeting will see Mr Pass given five minutes to speak in support of the petition.
He said: “I will be speaking on behalf of the people of Lichfield
“Our voices have been entirely absent from the process so far. I think it is utterly scandalous that there hasn’t even been any local representation on the committee tasked with considering the future of the city’s library.”
Cllr Ben Adams, the Staffordshire County Council Cabinet member responsible for libraries, said the new debate would provide a chance to outline the benefits of the proposed changes.
“I welcome the opportunity to explain again why I believe preserving two landmark buildings and investing in an up-to-date, first class library in the centre of Lichfield benefits the city’s residents,” he said.
