TWO leading city councillors have come out fighting for Worcester's libraries.

St John's councillor Richard Udall and Warndon councillor Jill Desarayah both fear their libraries are under threat.

However, Worcestershire County Council has said it is looking to increase library provision.

The councillor spoke after statistics showed three-quarters of Worcester residents do not have a library within walking distance.

Analysis from the Office for National Statistics shows just 29 per cent of Worcester residents had a library within a 15-minute walk of their home.

Worcester currently has three libraries serving over 100,000 people living in the city. 

Councillor Udall said: "St Johns' Library has just received a significant cut in staffing hours with the Libraries Unlocked Programme (which sees libraries open in certain hours, unattended by staff)

"I'm concerned this is the start of a slippery slope towards closure, death by a thousands cuts, a salami slice system which will eventually be used to justify closure."

He added: "St Johns' Library is the centre of the community with many user groups, including a lego club, and its librarians help and assists users.

"It's a community centre where people go for help and advice and the recent decision to withdraw newspapers from the library is also a mistake.

"Our libraries need investment, not cuts."

Jill Desayrah, Worcester City councillor for Warndon, said: "I think libraries are crucial hubs in any community, especially where life for residents is hardest.

"The ones in Worcester offer educational and training opportunities as well as books and other media and they are registered warm spaces to help people who struggle in the winter months.

"They can also be a sanctuary for students who might find studying difficult at home for whatever reason."

Cllr Desayrah added: "Unfortunately, the county council often hints at making cuts to library staff and opening hours in a counterproductive attempt to save money.

"I think this is unacceptable."

The Hive, near the City Centre, is the largest city library and is the only one to open every day, between 8.30am and 10pm. 

Warndon Library is open between 9.30am and 5pm on weekdays and 9.30am and 1pm on Saturdays.

St Johns Library is open Monday to Saturday between 8am and 8pm, but is only staffed for 26 of the 72 hours it is open due to a new programme called Libraries Unlocked, which allows visitors over 15 to use the library without staff present.

A recent investigation by the BBC found more than 180 council-run libraries have either closed or been handed to volunteer groups since 2018, and 2,000 jobs lost.

Councillor Karen May, Worcester County Council's cabinet member for communities, said: "The County Council delivers a comprehensive library service across 21 libraries, two library link service points, a mobile library service, a library service at home and 24/7 access to an online library of eBooks, audiobooks, newspapers and magazines.

"While the Council has no current plans to increase the number of libraries, it is actively working with planners to identify opportunities for growing library provision as part of significant future developments in the county.