Changes to Newbury library opening hours

West Berkshire Council reduces some weekday library opening hours to cut costs

THOSE who keep normal office hours will be unable to visit Newbury Library on some weekdays, from March 19.

However West Berkshire Council claims the “adjustments” to the opening times “will better meet public demand as well as making a saving to the public purse.”

Currently, the library is open until 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, but under the new regime it will close at 5pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, remain open until 7pm on Thursdays, and open one hour longer on Saturdays, from 9.30am to 5pm.

In a statement, the council said: “Figures show the last two hours of these days have the least number of visitors - as low as 37 people an hour. The peak usage of the library is late Saturday mornings when there is an average of 171 visitors an hour. Visitor numbers from 3 to 4pm on Saturdays are 142 on average.”

Executive councillor responsible for culture and leisure in West Berkshire, Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley), said: “It doesn't make sense to spend public money on keeping such a large venue open for so few people at the end of Mondays and Tuesdays, but makes perfect sense to extend Saturdays when there is likely to be a demand.

“The net result will be a reduction in opening times of three hours a week which will also save £15,000 a year to help the council balance its budget, while at the same time meeting public need.”