POOLE mobile library service could be axed under council plans to save £50,000 a year.

The library bus served almost 300 residents last year - including 125 who use the service provided to sheltered housing schemes, and 141 in areas

where there are no branch libraries.

It came under threat last year when a consultation saw 59 per cent of home stop respondents, and 56 per cent of public stop residents saying withdrawing the service would have a major effect on them.

In December the council put off the decision to allow more time for alternative providers to plan how they would establish and run community libraries.

Since then a number of small libraries run by residents and volunteers, with books and support from Poole libraries, have been set up, and the Home Library Service delivered by the Royal Voluntary Service has expanded to deliver books to people in residential and care homes.

Now a recommendation to withdraw the mobile library service completely will be considered by Cabinet today.

The move would save the council £50,000 a year, and avoid the £100,000 future cost of replacing the mobile library vehicle. The existing library vehicle would be used to provide a new community library at Talbot Primary School for people living in the Wallisdown area.

Cllr Janet Walton, leader of the council, said: "The council consulted users of the mobile library service on the proposals last year and since then it has successfully launched two new community libraries in Bearwood. The proposal set out in the report for Cabinet members offers not only a significant budget saving, but also an improved service for residents in sheltered housing and an opportunity for people to get more involved in their local community."

Of the nine public stops serving people in areas where there are no branch libraries, six now have or are the process of starting a community library. If the plans to withdraw the mobile service go ahead, customers living in sheltered or residential housing will be contacted an offered the alternative provision available through the Poole Libraries Home Library service.

The officer's report which will come before councillors says: "All older library service users who are not able to travel independently to a library or to a small community library will receive support to sustain their library use."