COUNCILLORS from across Denbighshire are 'disgusted' and 'shocked' at cuts to library services in a bid to save nearly £90,000 from the Denbighshire County Council budget.
Plan to slash library opening hours in Corwen, Denbigh, Ruthin, St Asaph, Prestatyn and Rhuddlan are in place and a total of 37 and a half hours will be cut from library opening times, saving the council £38,500.
The head of libraries and archive Arwyn Jones presented the report 'Implementing The Reduction in Library Opening Hours' to a Lifelong Learning scrutiny committee last Thursday.
Proposals on the cuts started in 2008 when plans to close Rhuddlan library to save £90,000 were scrapped by cabinet and replaced with a recommendation for a formal Review of the Library Service to make 'efficiency savings in 2010/11'.
The review said the library service was 'well run, effective and efficient' and was 'not a failing service' but the library service revenue needed to be reduced by £90,000 from 2010.
Chairman of the committee Cllr David Smith said the report 'didn't go down very well' and a strong message was being sent to cabinet about the need to protect this frontline service.
"This committee met in October and disagreed with the plans, we just agreed on the need to save on management we didn't agree with closing or reducing hours, that went back to cabinet but they made there own decision," added Cllr Smith.
To meet the £90,000 saving target £38,000 has already been found through restructuring of the library management team and £13,000 from the Lifelong Learning Directorate but the remaining £38,500 needs to be achieved through reducing opening hours.
Councillors said they sympathised with Arwyn who has already had £240,000 slashed from his budget since 2008 when opening hours were first cut, the mobile library service was deleted and four senior positions were reduced to one.
Corwen councillor Huw Jones said he was shocked at the report and if the county find the £38,500 elsewhere it could be saved but this looks impossible as the budget has already been set as well as the council tax.
He said: "On a Wednesday the CAB come to Corwen library, that's vital, it's also a one stop shop, a tourist information centre. Its an asset to the community.
"It gives Denbighshire a bad name, this could be damaging, we've had good reports from the Welsh audit this week all that good work is blown away for the sake of £38,500."
He added that community and town councils have not been consulted properly about the plans.
Denbigh councillor Raymond Bartley said: “Bearing in mind other libraries in the county, we have come off well.”
St Asaph councillor Bill Cowie said: "They (DCC) are not going to budge on it, we have all sent emails in criticising it but they wont budge because they have to save money.
"This is not the first time St Asaph library has suffered, we don't want anymore interference,"
St Asaph Cllr Dewi Owen said: "I find it disgusting it's absurd, they should have been looking at ways and means of using the libraries and bringing in other services making it much more open and a hub of a place."
Opening hours from April 2010
Corwen
Was: 34 hours
New hours: 26
Mon: 9.30-1: 2-5
Tues: 9.30-1: 2-7
Weds: closed
Thurs: 9.30-1: 2-5
Fri: 9.30-2
Sat: closed
Denbigh
Was: 44.5 hours
New hours: 39
Mon: 9.30-7
Tues: 9.30-5
Weds: 9.30-5
Thurs: 1-5
Fri: 9.30-5
Sat: 9.30-12.30
Ruthin
Was: 45.5 hours
New hours: 38.5
Mon: 9.30-5
Tues: 9.30-7
Weds: 9.30-1
Thurs: 9.30-5
Fri: 9.30-5
Sat: 9.30-12.30
St Asaph
Was: 35 hours
New hours: 31.5
Mon: 9.30-7
Tues: 1-5
Weds: 9.30-5
Thurs: closed
Fri: 9.30-5
Sat: 9.30-12.30
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CUTS? Post your comments below