Preston Council Publishes Referendum Guide as Residents Prepare to Vote on Library and Transport Levy

Preston City Council released its official referendum guide this week, setting out the case for a targeted levy that would raise an estimated £8.2 million over four years for library and transport spending. The guide, distributed to all households from Friday, outlines what the measure does, who pays, and when voting happens. Residents will decide on 28 August whether to support the increase, which the council says would add roughly £1.20 per week to an average household bill.

The timing of the vote comes as Preston faces competing budget pressures. Library opening hours have contracted by 18 per cent since 2020, council records show, while local bus operators have cut evening and weekend routes in outer suburbs. The proposed levy represents an attempt to stabilise services without broader council tax rises that would apply to all ratepayers. Policy analysts note that targeted levies for specific services have become more common in local government as councils seek to protect popular services while managing overall rate burdens.

What the Levy Would Fund

The referendum guide specifies that the money would restore two additional opening days per week at Preston's four library branches and extend afternoon hours at the central library until 7 pm on weekdays. For bus services, the council says funds would support three new weekday routes serving outer residential areas and maintain Sunday service on six existing lines currently facing reduction. The council's budget papers estimate the library component at £4.1 million and transport at £4.1 million across the four-year period.

For residents, the concrete effects would be visible. A worker in Preston's outer suburbs could use the restored bus route to reach the city centre without driving. A parent could access the library's after-school programs on days currently closed. Council documents note that outer suburbs experience the highest vehicle dependency and lowest library usage rates precisely because of reduced access hours, creating a potential feedback loop where poor service drives down use.

Community Voices and Concerns

Local advocacy groups have begun responding to the referendum guide. The Preston Residents Association, which represents 2,400 households across the northern suburbs, told the council in formal submissions that members support transport funding but want transparency on how bus routes are chosen. Library advocates, including the Friends of Preston Libraries network, have circulated the referendum guide through their mailing list of 1,800 supporters, emphasising the connection between reduced hours and declining youth attendance at homework clubs.

The guide itself addresses common questions: a household paying £1,800 in annual council tax would contribute approximately £62 to the levy if approved. The council is required by state legislation to publish costings for any measure seeking a rate rise above the annual cap, currently set at 2.5 per cent. The referendum guide meets those requirements, detailing administration costs (projected at 2 per cent of revenue) and a sunset clause requiring a new vote if the council wishes to renew the levy after four years.

Early voting opens on 14 August. The council says voting will occur at 47 locations including libraries, town halls, and community centres across Preston's five wards. All ratepayers on the electoral roll are eligible to vote. Results will be known by 29 August, with council staff saying implementation could begin in October if the measure passes. If it fails, the council will need to propose alternative funding sources or announce service reductions by November, when the 2027-28 budget process typically begins.