COUNTY councillors are set to decide the future of Hampshire's mobile library service which could see 15 New Forest stops axed.

A decision will be made on April 18 and, if agreed to by Hampshire County Councillors, could see mobile library services finish across the county at the end of June.

Proposals outline replacing it with a home library service, delivered by volunteers, as well as free online learning sessions for communities that may lose their mobile library stop.

A report entitled Library Strategy to 2020, states that axing the service could save the county council £360,000 a year.

The service is currently operated using five vehicles over 250 stops including many of Hampshire's more rural communities.

All the vehicles are reportedly nearing the end of their 10-year leases and are becoming increasingly expensive to run.

It is understood that the service is only used by around 2,230 people - less that one per cent of Hampshire's library users and, according to the report, more than 100 of the 250 stops have fewer than four customers.

There are currently stops at Ashurst, Barton, Bransgore, Brockenhurst, Burley, Everton, Godshill, Hordle, Mockbeggar, Naish, Ringwood, Sopley, Tiptoe, Woodgreen and Woodlands.

Ashurst and Colbury Parish Council clerk Helen Klaassen said the issue will be raised at their next meeting on Tuesday (APRIL 19).

"From the parish council's point of view we don't want to lose our mobile library service and we will be looking at it during our next meeting," she said. "I don't know how many people use the service. It has been mentioned that it could use more promotion but if you don't have a car and can't get out of the village it's invaluable.

"It's disappointing; we wouldn't want to lose it at all."

Burley Parish Council chairman Philip Daubeney said they will discuss the matter tomorrow evening (WED), adding: "I would personally regret it and I think a lot of people do use it."

It is understood that Godshill, located close to Fordingbridge, has only three residents who would be affected by the cuts.

The news follows reports that a decline in the number of users in Dorset has forced Dorset County Council to consider axing mobile library services also.