CAMPAIGNERS are preparing to fight for services which may face the chop.

A review of library services has one group in Wyke Regis worried.

Residents formed an action group three years ago to fight county council plans to close libraries, including the Wyke branch.

The library stayed open – although its hours were reduced – and campaigner Rosemary Smith said the group will fight any new plans to close it.

There is no suggestion at this stage that Wyke Library is under threat but Mrs Smith said she was worried about the future.

Mrs Smith, of Lodge Way, said: “The library is a much-used resource relied on by particular groups including the elderly, mums and toddlers and schoolchildren.

“We are waiting for some new computers to be installed and it seems a terrible waste to me to spend all that money then make further cuts.

“We would reorganise as an action group and fight any plans to close Wyke Library.”

A woman who campaigned tirelessly to save a day centre from closure is also concerned.

Wendy Webb from Weymouth helped to reverse a decision by the county council to close the day centre in Blandford which her brother Paul attends.

She said: “I’m very worried at this time but we’ll just have to see how it pans out.

“The thing that concerns me is that if you take away a day centre for people with learning disabilities what will you put in its place?

“These centres offer a happy and safe environment for service users and the staff build up a great rapport with them.

“If the centre closes without consultation and without any thinking to what would be in its place it would be catastrophic.”

Teacher Andy Blackwood is a champion of youth services and a trustee of Steps Club for Young People in Weymouth.

Mr Blackwood said: “Youth centres aren’t just places where young people go to play pool.

“Clubs like Steps do a lot of education and preventative work. Young people are supported and this stops them getting into difficult situations and keeps them off the streets.”

Community safety spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Ian James is concerned to hear the county council’s contribution to the CCTV system might be cut. This figure of £12,500 is understood to be a relatively small but highly-valued contribution towards costs.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council contributes the lion’s share and there are contributions from other authorities and the police.

Coun James explained the centre in Weymouth also supports networks in Bridport, Dorchester, Dorset County Hospital and on Portland.

He said: “CCTV is an easy hit but the point is you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

“It would be extremely foolish to remove it because it provides a huge service. I would fight tooth and nail to keep it.”