Council vows to protect lost vulnerable with home delivery service

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet has agreed plans to extend its home delivery service of books to protect the county’s most vulnerable residents.

Cabinet yesterday (Thursday, June 30) approved the withdrawal of the county’s mobile library service from September this year. The service, used by 996 people, currently costs £178,000. Existing users who require a home delivery service will continue to be provided for.

They also agreed to invite local groups and organisations to consider operating community-based libraries.

Councillor Roger Phillips, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for enterprise and culture, said: “There has been a tremendous transformation of library services and we have operated a policy of bringing all of our council services into one building to reduce costs.

“This has proved to be the right policy as we have not had to look at closing any of our main libraries and the facility at Bromyard has one of the longest opening hours in the country.

“We did give notice back in February that the mobile library service was under review and I feel this is the only viable option.

“I understand many mobile library users are housebound and we will continue to offer them a service by delivering books to their homes but people who are mobile are urged to use one of the permanent libraries and help their viability.

“I would also urge residents to consider whether their area would benefit from a community-based library. We have already got one in Peterchurch and there is no finer example in the country,” he added.

Anyone interested in setting up a community library is urged to contact Jon Chedgzoy on 01432 260557.