Weeks after news was leaked of the council's secret plan to axe local libraries – and dismissed as speculation – a service review has revealed that five libraries are on the hit list.

The facilities at Hopeman, Dufftown, Rothes, Findochty and Kinloss are under threat, while it is planned that three other libraries will be moved into schools.

Communities are angry about the way the council – which prides itself on having one of highest levels of book borrowers in the country – has announced it is to consult on the reprovision of library services, which could see smaller communities suffering to allow cash to be spent on improving facilities at larger libraries, creating a network of accessible learning centres and learning points across Moray.

Residents fear that decisions have already been made by the council, with papers asking communities for their views having been sent out only this week – a month after the budget-setting meeting at which the Independent administration pushed through a radical programme of cuts, including savings to be made in the library service, the closure of public toilets and axeing of playgroups.

The possible withdrawal by the council from library provision in Kinloss must be explained, said Eric Walker, chairman of Findhorn and Kinloss Community Council.

"We are concerned that a decision seems to have been made and now the council is offering to consult on it. It seems to be after the event, which is the wrong way round," he said.

The council's planned attack on public services was leaked to the press in January, but convener Councillor Eddie Coutts said he was not prepared to respond to anonymous information.

The council failed to counter mounting community concerns by highlighting possible benefits to communities, despite giving itself a pat on the back at a meeting this week, at which it was claimed that its new media strategy – designed to pre-empt negative stories in the press – was a success.

Community representatives in Kinloss are seeking face-to-face talks with the council to establish how they came up with the decision to withdraw from the partnership provision with the RAF.

"We want to see the figures and see how much thought they put into this. We are concerned that Moray Council is nibbling away at amenities, and we would like to engage with Moray Council to see whether this move is justified. We will want answers," said Mr Walker.

Hopeman Library is well-used, said Jean Mac-iver, chairman of the community association. Almost a third of residents are registered borrowers – helping underline the council's position as having the fourth highest borrowing level in Scotland – and annual user numbers are over 7,500.

"I think everybody was disappointed by the news and unable to understand the reasoning behind the decision. Moray libraries are so successful, but it appears that the council is saying we are very good, and now we will close libraries.

"As for being fit for purpose, I have never heard anyone complain about Hopeman Library. It is very efficiently run by an extremely pleasant librarian, and Hopeman is perfectly happy to keep the library as it is rather than lose it," Mrs Maciver said.

"Hopeman is used a great deal; it is used by mothers with young children, and I thought the whole idea was to help get young children interested in books at a young age. Now we are going to take that possibility away from them.

"You cannot expect elderly people, many of whom don't have cars, to get buses to and from Burghead. Everyone is appalled by this move, and a strong letter will be sent by this association to the council."

The council's own review took into account the new emphasis on delivering on-line services and the recognition of developing facilities with a range of services to which people are willing to travel, but has identified that those least likely to use another library outwith their community are those aged 60 and over, the young, and those with restricted access to transport.

The mobile library service would be used to serve the communities of Dufftown, Findochty, Hopeman and Rothes. It already operates in Kinloss.

The savings realised from the proposed rationalised programme would amount to £51,000, and selling off the library buildings could net more than £250,000 for the cash-strapped council, which has warned in the consultation document that without closures, it will not have the money needed to ensure adequate facilities through investment in its remaining and proposed new premises.

The estimated cost of maintaining existing buildings over the next 25 years is £633,000, against an annual budget of £20,000. Keith Library alone needs to be urgently upgraded at a cost of £102,000.

The review also includes the transfer of the libraries at Burghead and Portknockie into the respective primary schools, and incorporating the Fochabers library into the Milne's High School healthy living centre.

The key roles of the public library, says the council, are as learning, literacy and information centres, community resource points and public service points.

The fundamental challenge facing the service in several smaller communities is that use is declining, the stand-alone facility is inadequate to meet modern library requirements, and the costs of building replacement, upgrading and maintenance are substantial.

The council is asking for public comment on its proposal to achieve a "strategic network of learning centres and learning points over the next five years" and the targeting of the mobile library service to those communities which would no longer have a library.

The consultation period ends on Friday, April 27.

f.mcpherson@northern-scot.co.uk

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