Council drops plan to reduce library hours

No cuts will be made to Devon library services following an "extensive" public consultation attracting more than 25,000 participants.

Devon County Council proposed to reduce staffed opening hours across 50 libraries by about 30% in May.

However, at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the authority said it would instead invest £1m into the libraries.

The council said at the meeting 6,000 people said they would be interested in volunteering at their local libraries.

Solomon Elliott, organiser of Save Devon's Libraries campaign and former Labour candidate, said it was "difficult campaign" trying to save their libraries.

He said: "It's good news, but it's been a bit of a slog."

Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, cabinet member for rural affairs, said 25,000 people took part in the "extensive consultation".

She said: "We had 25,000 people tell us how important their libraries are to them and we've listened. It's been a really good day."

Council officials said they would develop a recruitment and support programme for library volunteers to enable "extended access" and to support staff hours which would be funded by existing library budgets.

The council added a further £100,000 would be invested in the county's book fund and from 1 October, with fines for overdue books being abolished.

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