13 libraries set to close over funding

From the archive, first published Monday 24th Apr 2006.

A THIRD of Dorset County Council's libraries could close as drastic measures are taken to bridge a £20million funding gap.

Libraries in Colehill, Corfe Mullen, Corfe Castle, Lytchett Matravers, Wool and Stalbridge are among those facing the chop and the move won't even account for five per cent of the council's budget deficit.

Council chiefs concede it is probably the first of many "unpalatable" decisions. Other services are likely to be axed in the coming year.

There are hopes the mobile library service, which visits rural areas, will be extended but bosses don't deny the closures will have an impact.

Alan Martin, regional officer for the public services union Unison, said: "The closure of these 13 libraries is set to save the council up to £850,000 over the next three years, but at what cost to the rural communities and those that run the libraries?"

The proposed cuts follow an efficiency review, which ranked libraries according to strict criteria of usage, cost and distance from other services. It could mean up to 60 job losses and union officials are urging the council to offer early retirement or voluntary redundancy opportunities.

But the remaining library stock is being flagged up for modernisation and sale of old libraries will boost the capital budget.

Mike Harries, head of property management at the council, said: "The existing network is not sustainable. In some areas we've over-provision and have a number of libraries very close together."

Dorset has the second highest number of libraries per head of population in the country. This move would bring its ranking to average and would bring the overall number of libraries in the county council area to 21.

Opening hours of remaining libraries are also expected to change and the staffing structure within them would be streamlined.

Elaine Taylor, director of corporate services at the council, said: "I believe these cuts could be the first of many."

Trevor Prior, assistant director of resources at the county, said: "Aspects of this are unpalatable - no one has come to these conclusions lightly."

Other libraries that could close are Burton Bradstock, Charmouth, Chickerell, Crossways, Portland Underhill, Puddletown and Wyke Regis.

The following months will bring widespread public consultation.

A final decision will be made in July.

First published: April 24, 2006