TWO locations in West Devon frequented by a mobile library have this week been announced as the areas to lose the service.

Devon County Council has announced changes that will cut the cost of its mobile library service, leaving it more financially sustainable for the future.

Under the changes, 65 of the most under-used mobile library stops will be removed from routes from April onwards, which includes Rubbytown, near Gulworthy, and Liftondown telephone box.

Users of the remaining 454 stops will see the frequency of visits change from fortnightly to monthly. More people will have the opportunity to receive books and spoken-word items delivered to their homes instead.

The new service will require fewer library vehicles, and the changes will help the council save up to £125,000 a year towards the £110-million cuts the council faces over the next four years due to government funding reductions

Consultation about the proposals before Christmas drew 1,585 responses from mobile library users.  Only a small number, 62 responses, referred to the 69 under-used stops proposed for withdrawal on the grounds that just three or fewer people regularly visit them.

Having heard the responses, the council has decided to reinstate four of those 'at risk' stops, reducing the total number of stops to withdraw from the service to 65. Of the 62 responses, 70% said they would continue to use the library service in other ways.

A number also asked about the council's home delivery service, which is provided by the Royal Voluntary Service. Under that scheme, anyone unable to use a static or mobile library because of illness or due to advanced age or disability, can receive books and spoken word items at home.

Cllr Roger Croad, the council's cabinet member with responsibility for the library service, said: 'When we reviewed the mobile library service three years ago, we introduced a criteria to ensure stops were well used.

'A small number of stops have over time become significantly under-used, and the service costs significantly more per customer compared to our static libraries. These changes will come into affect from April, with new timetables published in February.'