Eight Hampshire libraries confirmed for closure to save £1.7million
It's been confirmed that eight libraries are closing in Hampshire, with reduced opening hours for the remainder.
The shake up of services follows a public consultation as the council tries to save £1.7 million.
Ten libraries had been earmarked for closure, including South Ham, Fair Oak and Lyndhurst.
Today it was announced that two on the list, Chineham and Emsworth, would remain open, though hours would be reduced, and up to 50 jobs lost.
Report by ITV News Meridian's Mary Stanley:
Residents in Lee on the Solent have only just got their library back after lockdown but today came the news it was to shut for good.
It's on a list of 8 libraries across Hampshire that the County Council is recommended to close to save £1.76 million next year.
The measures will also see opening hours reduced at the remaining 40 libraries, with some cut to just 16 hours a week. Between 40 to 50 full time jobs will be lost.
List of libraries for closure:
Blackfield
Elson
Fair Oak
Horndean
Lee-on-the-Solent
Lyndhurst
Odiham
South Ham
4 community libraries will also have their support withdrawn. The plans which were first mooted back in January caused protests including this delegation of local authors. It was a consultation led to 21,000 responses- a record in county council history.
Ali Sparkes, Author:
A report on the future of the library service was unveiled at an online briefing today. It says the 8 libraries earmarked for closure only account for 5% of all library visits.
The Covid pandemic has led to a shift towards internet borrowing and events such as story time and book clubs are now able to take place online, but councillors say the 8 libraries could be saved if communities step in to run them.
Cllr Sean Woodward, Hampshire County Council:
The Covid crisis has cost the county council £110 million.
There's a warning that more savings could be needed in the future.