GRAYSHOTT mobile library service looks set to be axed in 2016 in further county council cuts.

The village lost its permanent building, which opened in 1973, at the end of 2014, and was replaced by the mobile service which stops outside the village hall. Hampshire County Council wants to save £1.7million and could scrap all five mobile vans.

People have until January 16 to comment on the library service’s transformation strategy for the next four years.

The mobile service, which has 253 stops, mainly across Hampshire’s rural communities, is the most expensive part of the library service.

It costs £360,000 a year – but is only used by around 2,230 people – less than one per cent of all library users in the county. With some stops serving just four readers, the service works out at £161 per head and £3.95 per book issued. The increasingly unreliable vehicles are nearing the end of their 10-year leases and it would cost about £100,000 to buy one new vehicle.

County councillor Ferris Cowper told Grayshott Parish Council recently he hoped a book ordering system could be implemented with a volunteer-run library in another village venue.

A final decision will be taken in April. Comment online at www. hants. gov.uk/ library or obtain a questionnaire from the mobile library.