A PROPOSAL to cut the opening hours of Pembroke Dock’s library by nearly a third must be fought, a town councillor has said.

The Water Street library, currently open five-and-a-half days a week, could lose 13 hours a week as part of wider proposals which could see opening hours in many of the county’s libraries cut.

The deadline for responses to the consultation expired on December 1 and is expected to be heard at Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet in the New Year.

Cabinet Member for Culture Elwyn Morse has previously stated: “Pembrokeshire County Council, like other local authorities, needs to make savings in order to balance its budget in the wake of government spending cuts.”

Speaking on behalf of group Save Pembroke Dock Library (SPDL) at the recent meeting of Pembroke Dock Town Council, Bob Leyland, of Brewery Street, said: “Going into the mathematics it comes down to a 29 per cent cut in the opening hours for a six day week, and for Wednesday and Thursday it comes to a massive 53 per cent.

“Those are the cuts that are put for us to take, we don’t like it; on the consultation document it looks as though Pembroke Dock is being dealt a bit of a blow.”

Councillor Margaret Murton said: “I feel very strongly about this; if we let this go now we very soon will not have a library, it’s the thin edge of the wedge, so much has been taken away from Pembroke Dock; we’ve got to fight this.”

Councillor Andrew McNaughton said: “People, when they have problems getting on the internet, are using the computers in the library. It’s essential that the library is there for all types of visitors.

“I think it’s quite crucial that a stand is made. The town council should protest strongly to say we don’t like it.”

Mayor Pam George told the visiting public: “We are 100 per cent behind what you are doing.”

Members later agreed to object to any cut in library opening hours.

To date SPDL has collected more than 350 signatures objecting to the proposed cut in opening hours.