WEYMOUTH College has made a U-turn on its decision to close its library after students protested against the decision.

As the Echo reported yesterday, Weymouth College proposed to close the facility as it launched a 30-day consultation as part of financial “efficiencies” it was looking to make.

The college has faced a number of cost-cutting measures in recent months, and has been working with the Further Education Commissioner to reduce its curriculum to save money.

Students and staff at the college said they feared that the removal of the library would affect the academic achievement of pupils.

Now Liz Myles, the college’s principal, has said the college will reconsider its position regarding the closure after protests.

She said: “Since we announced our intention to modernise the college’s library resource our students have voiced deep concern about the change and what they perceive to be the loss of a highly valued resource. “We will continue to review our learning resources at the college but have decided on a more gradual change to enable students to become accustomed to new ways of studying and the benefits this can bring.

“We are a caring and supportive institution and our actions are a reflection of the integrity and value we give to students’ views.”

Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for South Dorset Simon Bowkett said: “I very much welcome today’s announcement from Weymouth College that they intend to take a more considered and consultative approach to identifying savings and in making any significant changes – including the proposed library closure – and that they will be working constructively with students and staff.”

David Ellis, an A-level student at the college, praised the decision but said the students were waiting to see what changes would be made.

He said: “I am very happy that the library is going to stay open, it does sound like they want to make further changes so we will wait and see what they want to do.

“We have been discussing it at college today and we said that it was the only quiet area in the whole college to study, and when you need help with finding books or anything like that, the library staff are so lovely and helpful.

“As long as the eventual changes are not detrimental to the students and we keep the open space the library provides, I think we will go along with the changes but what we don’t know at the moment is how gradual it will be and what changes they want to make.”