CHANGES to library and One Stop Shop opening hours proposed by Cornwall Council have now been confirmed and will come into effect on June 1.

Callington Library has had a reduction of nine hours, now closing on a Monday and Wednesday, and opening from 9.30am to 5pm on Tuesdays, 9.30am to 5pm on Thursdays, 9.30am to 5pm on Fridays and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays.

The town's One Stop Shop hours were originally going to be cut by more than 50% from 25 to just 12, but after much lobbying by Callington Town Council, there will now be a cut to16 hours.

Town clerk Helen Dowdall said councillors were satisfied with the outcome.

She said: 'Ideally we would like there to be no cuts, but we know cuts have to be made. Thursday is traditionally the town's early closing day so we decided that would be best and asked for it to be closed on that day. On the other days the shop will now be open for four hours.

'It is a sign of the times, of course we are disappointed but we have to accept it.'

The One Stop Shop in Callington will now be open from 9.30am to 1.30pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays — an overall reduction of nine hours.

The changes mean that most Cornwall Council Libraries and One Stop Shops will be open for one day less per week.

Cornwall Council cabinet member for shared services Adam Paynter said: 'As part of the budget process and requirement to save £1.3-million from our customer access services, members made the decision to save £400,000 from the library and One Stop Shop service by reducing opening hours.

'We came up with a proposal of reduced hours which we then talked through with local members, staff, unions and partners. We have listened to their comments and amended the plans where possible to minimise the disruption to the local community while still making the savings.

'Of course it is not ideal that the council has had to cut the opening hours but it has been necessary to meet our reducing budgets while allowing us to keep all sites open rather than closing some of them.'