A CALL by Pembrokeshire County Council for Pembroke Dock Town Council to subsidise the full reopening of the town’s library has been declined.

The library hours were reduced as part of a wider county-wide move to save the budget-hit county council money.

Concerns about the reduction in library hours of up to 13 hours a week, which came into force on April 1 of this year, saw local group Save Pembroke Dock Library (SPDL) attend a previous meeting of Pembroke Dock Town Council.

Spokesman for the group, Bob Leyland, of Brewery Street, said: “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.”

At that meeting, Councillor Margaret Murton said: “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.”

At the October 1 meeting of the town council, members heard returning the Gordon Street library to its former opening hours would cost £14,346.95.

The council heard this would mean an increase of £4.29 for taxpayers, based on a Band D property.

An alternative, of the former opening hours at certain times of the year, would cost Band D taxpayers £1.43 each.

Councillor Phil Gwyther said: “Regretfully we would have to say no; I think it’s slightly cheeky them saying how much we should raise our precepts.”

Councillor Sue Perkins said: “It’s entirely up to the town council, other areas have done it.”

Members turned down the offer from the county council.

Cllr Gwyther added: “This thing about doing more services; I don’t disagree with the principle but our resources would have to be much stronger; even if we increased the precept there would be dangers of overspend.”