Devon County Council has pressed ahead with its plans to close Ipplepen Library on December 15 and review the future of those in Shaldon and Kingskerswell next June.
Kingsteignton Library has been retained but its future remains linked to development proposals for thousands of new homes in the village. On Tuesday, the seven county councillors who make up the executive voted to approve what is described as a library service modernisation programme.
But Cllr Phil Cook, who represents Ipplepen and Kingskerswell, described the county's decision-making as 'flawed' and said he had 'serious criticisms' of the report presented to the executive. He queried its accuracy, claimed it contained omissions and said of the recommendations: 'This is not an improvement in the service, it is a distinct deterioration.' He called on the county to amend its report to show support for Ipplepen Parish Council's bid to build an extension at the village's Millennium Hall where the library service could be housed.
His suggestion was not adopted. Chairman of the Friends of Kingsteignton Library, Mike Walters, said he was 'singularly unimpressed' with an apparent lack of support given by the village's county councillor, Cllr John Smith, and vowed to continue the fight.
He criticised Cllr Smith's suggestion that the library should be relocated as its current site was already within an area designated as a future 'village hub'. 'The friends will continue to meet and will continue to support the residents in maintaining the presence of our library in Kingsteignton,' he said.
The councillor responsible for libraries, Cllr Sheila Hobden, apologised for any inaccuracies in the report, but said they didn't affect the validity of the decisions being taken. She said that whatever the details of the argument were a 'key phrase' had emerged with regards to all of the county's libraries.
'People have to use them or lose them,' she said. 'I hope people have taken that message on board.' The executive's decision has been challenged by another group of councillors who sit on an internal watchdog committee. They will meet to discuss the situation on December 8. Cllr Stuart Hughes is inviting members of the public to contribute to the debate by writing to Scrutiny Team, Room G.36, County Hall, Exeter EX2 4QD or sending an email to [email protected]">[email protected] (heading your message "Library") by December 4.
The meeting will be able to make recommendations which the council's executive will be asked to consider on December 19.