Decision due on future of 10 libraries under threat to save Hampshire County Council £1.76m

At a meeting on July 28, councillors at Hampshire County Council are due to make a decision following a huge consultation.

Under current plans up to 10 libraries could close and those remaining could see a 15 per cent reduction in opening hours.

The libraries at risk of closure include those in Elson in Gosport, Emsworth, Horndean and Lee-on-the-Solent.

An alternative proposal could see the 48 council-run libraries remain open but with opening hours cut by 25 per cent.

The move would save Hampshire County Council £1.76m by 2021.

It has been opposed be campaigners, who were backed by several writers including Portchester-born Neil Gaiman, and One Day author David Nicholls,

Cllr Sean Woodward, executive member for recreation and heritage, said the authority has now considered the feedback received during a public consultation and the recommendations will be published seven days before the meeting.

The increase in people joining the digital library service during lockdown also set to be taken into account, Cllr Woodward said.

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But he stressed that this will not change the proposals.

As reported, should the authority decide to propose a change in the libraries opening hours there will be another public consultation.

‘It would be a local consultation on a library-by-library basis,’ Cllr Woodward said.

The news comes as the county council has also confirmed that libraries across the county will re-open on July 6 following months of closure due to the pandemic.

Cllr Woodward added: ‘I am very grateful for the support that residents have shown during the lockdown period. We’ve seen an enormous increase in the number of people using our digital library services.

‘Our staff have also been delivering online workshops and activities and staying in touch with our most vulnerable customers.

‘These new and enhanced schemes offer new opportunities for people to access a wide range of library services, demonstrating a shift in the way people are using library resources.

‘We expect this trend to continue and undoubtedly inform the proposals I will be considering on 28 July around the future of the library service.’

According to the council in the week after coronavirus lockdown restrictions were introduced, there were 200 new users to its Borrowbox account, offering downloads of audio and e-books, compared to 23 the previous week.

Kingsclere Community Library, Lowford Community Library, Milford-on-Sea Community Library and North Baddesley Community Library could be turned into independent community-managed libraries, meaning they will no longer be supported by the county council and will have to be run entirely by volunteers.