DEVON Library Services this week have reassured mobile library services in the Tavistock area will not miss out under cuts proposed by the county council.

The council is launching a consultation with mobile library users, over proposals which, it says, would remove under-used stopping places from mobile routes, and reduce the frequency of the service, cutting the cost of the service by half.

It is looking at many stops, including in the Tavistock and Okehampton districts, which have three, or fewer than three customers, using them.

The proposal would mean stops by Tavistock Mobile Library at Chilsworthy Stone Heap, Rubbytown near Gulworthy and Liftondown telephone box could be cut.

Pauline Anderson, outreach and rural services manager for Devon Libraries Services, said: 'Many of our clients have been using the services for years and have become friends of our staff who drive out to them.

'We would like to reassure users that nobody is going to be lost to us and that they will continue to be provided in some form — either through our static libraries, their nearest mobile one or through the Home Library Service.'

Eight mobile libraries currently make 522 stops around Devon, stopping for between 20 minutes to three hours, but visitor figures show that 69 stops are significantly underused, with just three or fewer people using them.

The county council is proposing to remove the stops from its service, affecting 160 mobile library users. The remaining 4,900 users could see their frequency reduced from fortnightly to monthly stops, although borrowing times would be changed to reflect a new timetable.

The council's home delivery service to residents who are disabled or who can no longer physically access library services would remain in place. A resident of Rubbytown expressed disappointment at the possibility that the mobile library could be stopped from stopping there as she knew of some elderly people who used and appreciated the service.

Mary Steer, of Rubbytown Farm, told the Times: 'It would be a real shame to see it go. There are some older people around here who rely on the service. It's another example of rural services being hit and the mobile library taken away will be particular missed by the elderly.'

At Liftondown the telephone box is one of the proposed stops for the service to miss but there will still be a regular one outside the church at Lifton.

Lifton parish councillor Brian Moore said the council was due to discuss the proposed cuts at its next meeting. The county council says the change would reduce the council's spending by £200,000 a year, contributing to the £110-million cuts the council faces over the next four years because of Government cuts to its funding. It would also reduce the council's mobile fleet by four vehicles.

Cllr Roger Croad, the council's cabinet member responsible for the service said: 'The mobile library service costs nearly twice per customer, compared to the average cost per customer to our static libraries.

'Sixty-nine of the 522 mobile library stops are used by just three or fewer customers. When we undertook a major review of the mobile library service three years ago, we introduced criteria to ensure the stops were well used. We have now reviewed usage of all stops and our proposal is to remove these significantly underused stops from our routes, but maintain the service to the majority of customers.

Pauline Anderson said it was important that people responded to the consultation process as nothing was yet decided.

Six weeks of consultation start this week. The council hopes to make a decision in December with a view to introducing a change to the service in the new financial year.

Leaflets on the consultation can be picked up at the static and mobile libraries.

For more information call 0845 155 1001 or email [email protected]">[email protected]