Shropshire mobile library services 'should be cut'

Weekly mobile library services in Shropshire should be cut back to save money, a council report has said.

Three out of five vehicles in the fleet will reach the end of their lease in March and due to their low public usage they should not be replaced, it said.

The service should also be fortnightly to reflect the fall in demand everywhere in the county, except in Bridgnorth which saw a 13% rise in use.

Councillors are due to consider their officer's proposals on 19 January.

The officer's mobile library services report said mobile libraries should focus on providing services in rural rather than urban areas. The proposed changes are based on a 12-week public consultation about library usage.

By not replacing three of the mobile libraries the council could save £125,000, a spokesman for the Conservative-controlled council said.

The report also recommended that a community-run library in a post office branch in Weston Rhyn, Oswestry, should be closed in March, due to the high cost and low usage ratio.

It said there was no need for it as the area was already served by a mobile library.