Ellesmere Library supporters issue rallying call

Friends of the library has made a final plea to people to put forward their views about the future of the town's service.

Shropshire Council's six-week public consultation on cost-cutting changes to the service is due to end on Monday with three options to choose from – moving the service to the nearby Meres Day Centre, keeping it on Victoria Street but halving the opening hours, or suggesting a third option to save the council £8,830 per year.

The council said its preferred option is moving the library into the Meres Day Centre where it would be run by another organisation.

John Shone, chairman of the Friends said: "Time is running out fast and we believe it's vitally important that everyone in Ellesmere and the surrounding area takes up the opportunity to have their say.

"The library is a well-used and much loved facility in the town.

"We've been told that the service has to change in order for savings to be made, but we want to make sure that no-one misses the chance to let the council know what they think should be done.

"Our aim is to make sure that whatever the outcome, we have a vibrant library service that meets the growing needs of the town.

"We don't want to see the library downgraded, diluted or diminished. We want to see it enhanced."

Consultation forms are available at the library, the town hall, the post office and the newsagents.

So far, the group said that by Monday there had been just 66 comments submitted to the consultation.

Shropshire Council announced earlier this year that it was is looking to save £1.3 million by finding alternative management for some of its library services including Ellesmere, Shawbury, Broseley, Shifnal and Church Stretton.

Ellesmere library came under scrutiny when it was revealed user numbers at the library fell from 25,275 in 2010/11 to 23,853 in 2014/15.

The library now has fewer than 500 users a week and a total of 998 active borrowers.

Comments can also be submitted online at new.shropshire.gov.uk/get-involved

There is also a consultation open into the future of Shawbury Library service and Shropshire Council is seeking an alternative management to take over the running of the village's service.

For more information, contact John Shone chairman of Friends of Ellesmere Library on (01691) 624514 or 07707 027720.