RESIDENTS in Shipston are battling with the county council over the future of the town’s library.

Warwickshire County Council want to reduce opening hours from 30 to 20 a week as part of a cost-cutting exercise, but the leader of Stratford District Council, Coun Chris Saint, said the savings would be minimal but it would have a huge impact on services.

He said: “Shipston is relatively remote from other communities.

We are a community united on this and are going to fight hard against the cuts.” Coun Saint’s comments followed a special Shipston Community Forum at the High School on May 20.

He said it was well attended by townfolk. He explained that the county council had recently installed Warwickshire Direct into the library making it easier for Shipston people to access county council information.

Coun Saint said: “It doesn’t make sense to offer this extended service then cut the hours of staff. The building will still be there, and the rent and the rates will still be the same.”

Head of libraries stategy Ayub Khan said that the savings in Shipston would amount to £9,412 per annum.

He said: “Overall around the county the savings will amount to considerably more.

However, we are taking everyone’s views into consideration.”

The end of the consultation period is June 9, then a month after this the county will make its decision.