Frank Dobson joins library campaign

He revealed that the Heritage Lottery Fund - which gave almost £1 million to extend the library and archives in the 1990s - was not happy about Minster officials' handling of the affair.

"I have taken the matter up with the Heritage Lottery Fund and I understand they are very unhappy that, having made a major contribution, they were not consulted or even told," said the York-born former Health Secretary, who has a home at Dunnington and discovered about the closure proposals from reading the Press.

He told the paper that he strongly supported efforts to keep the library open. "It has been there for hundreds of years, and a temporary blip in the finances is no excuse for throwing it all away.

"I also wonder if the savings which they claim they will get will automatically be achieved."

Mr Dobson's intervention came as campaigners revealed that more than 600 people had already signed a petition to the Archbishop of York, expressing concern at the closure proposals. The campaigners want to ensure there is no backtrack on a potential reprieve revealed in yesterday's Evening Press.

We reported that a compromise deal was expected to be thrashed out at a meeting between the Archbishop and the Dean and Chapter later this month, under which the library would remain in its present form while the Minster could still introduce admission charges.

Mike Tyler, one of those who will present the petition on June 12, said those signing it so far included both residents and visitors, academics, clergy, family historians, school governors and parish congregations.

The aim of pressing ahead with the petition despite the possible reprieve was to ensure that the depth and strength of public feeling was fully appreciated, and to keep the matter at the forefront of public awareness.

Petition forms are available in the offices of The Evening Press in Walmgate for readers who want to sign.

Updated: 12:51 Friday, June 06, 2003