PEOPLE are being asked for their views on moving Stanmore library in Winchester to a community centre.

As previously reported, the county council is planning to close the library in Wavell Way to save £35,000 a year.

But locals could still borrow books from nearby Carroll Centre in Somers Close under proposals to move the library there.

The idea is it would be run on a day-to-day basis by the Carroll Centre with support from the county council.

The centre already offers free public IT access, a children’s centre, after school club and youth club. Supporters say more people, especially children, may borrow books if the library relocates there.

The city council has recently commissioned architects to explore ways of making better use of the building.

An open day is planned at the Carroll Centre on Thursday May 17 between 11am to 2pm and from 5pm to 7pm to view the proposed designs and discuss them with architects.

The plans will also be on display in Stanmore library from May 17 and there will be an opportunity to leave comments.

County chiefs say Stanmore is the least-used library in Hampshire with an average of 106 borrowers per month. In contrast, Winchester Discovery Centre is the most popular.

However critics have pointed out Stanmore library is only open nine hours per week – making it difficult for people to visit.

The branch in the middle of a council estate would be the first of the council’s 53 libraries to close under budget cuts aimed at saving £450,000.

North Baddesley library is also threatened with closure while other libraries across the county had opening hours reduced.