THE public mobile library service in Dorset is to be closed.

Dorset County Council’s Cabinet agreed to close the service at its latest meeting.

It will however continue to maintain the service provided to residential homes and sheltered accommodation units.

The public service will close by the end of December this year at the earliest or by March next year at the latest.

The plans were recommended to the committee by the People and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The decision follows a consultation with library users and local town and parish councils to look at alternative ways to access the library service.

The council has said it is axing the service due to a decline in the number of users and budget pressures and is part of the council's plan to save £1million over the next three years.

Speaking at the cabinet meeting, Liberal Democrat leader on the council, Janet Dover tried to reinforce the importance of the service.

She said: “They go to the most remote locations in rural Dorset. Rural Dorset has already lost a number of its bus services.

“To take away its provision is extremely hard for residents. I want to convey to you the importance of the mobile library service.”

Cllr Dover added that the service is an important part of rural culture.

Leader of the council, Cllr Robert Gould, said that the most important thing is to make sure there are other ways to address the needs of people who use the service.

People with a disability or frailty will continue to have access to books and other reading material delivered to their home.

The council will also be encouraging community transport to help people have access to libraries and continue to take the home library service van to residential homes.

The consultation highlighted ways in which people would continue to use the library service, with 61 percent of respondents saying they would use their static library.

Other ways residents would continue to use the library service include asking someone to collect books on their behalf, use the home library service or use an online library.

Dorset's library service has also joined LibrariesWest consortium, meaning that people whose nearest library in Somerset will be able to use the service over the border.

Speaking at the meeting of the People and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Paul Kimber raised concerns regarding the closure as well but acknowledged the need for the proposals.

He asked councillors to consider how they could encourage libraries to set up a friends group to reach isolated people in both rural and urban areas.