Ipplepen Library could be granted a last-minute stay of execution and the review of Kingskerswell Library extended until June 2008 after 'watchdog' councillors said the county's library modernisation plan went against its own policies. The future of the two libraries was thrown into doubt last month when Devon County Council announced that Ipplepen would have to close before Christmas owing to the poor state of the post-war hut in which it is housed. The Kingskerswell facility would be spared but its fate reviewed again next summer. But now members of Devon County Council's executive are due to meet on Tuesday to consider recommendations made by the environment, economy and culture overview and scrutiny committee. It has called for the rethink after members said the decisions contradicted sustainable transport, economic regeneration and future development policies. The committee wants the council to defer the closure at Ipplepen until an independent survey of the building has been carried out and talks held with its owners, the Church of England, about funding repairs. It also wants a survey already conducted by the church to be made public. In Kingskerswell it wants any permanent decision postponed from June next year to June 2008 to allow more time for consultation. 'We hope the executive takes on board all the recommendations in full,' said chairman, Cllr Stuart Hughes. The news was welcomed by Cllr Phil Cook, whose ward includes both villages. 'These are very positive proposals which have my full support,' he said. 'I have a close association with my colleagues on the executive and shall be using what persuasion I can.' Cllr Cook said it had been his suggestion to request an independent survey of the Ipplepen building as the county's engineers who had inspected it had 'a vested interest'. He also said that both the church and the parish council were willing to contribute 'substantially' to the cost of making good the building until the parish millennium community hall was ready to house the library permanently within the next two years. Of the Kingskerswell proposal he said: 'If it is approved it means we will no longer have a gun pointed to our heads, trying to get something arranged by next June.' The executive meeting is due to start at 1.30pm and can be viewed live on the Devon County Council website.
