PLANS to cut library opening hours in Milford Haven have been opposed by the town council.

On Monday, councillors decided – by seven votes to five – to oppose a review into library opening hours, which would affect all full-time libraries in Pembrokeshire.

The proposals would reduce late night opening times to once a week, introduce some afternoon closures, and see libraries close at 4pm, or at 5pm but with lunchtime closures.

But the plans also include a provision to increase opening hours during school holidays, so that tourists can use the information centre.

At a committee meeting earlier in November, members felt cut backs to the present opening times would impact children in the town, those who use the library on their lunch hour, or who go after work.

They decided that the town council should urge the county council to keep the current time schedule, with no changes.

But at full council on Monday, Cllr Guy Woodham said members needed to understand the financial pressure on the county.

“If we don’t support these minor changes, we’ll be left with no library at all,” he said.

Cllr John Cole said he was fully aware savings needed to be made, but to change library times would just be “tinkering around the edges”, when more could be saved by cutting the budgets of bigger departments, such as education and social services, or by saving on staffing costs.

But Deputy Mayor Stephen Joseph said Pembrokeshire County Council and the town council were “both in the same boat”, and there was no point voting needlessly against county council proposals.

“We all need to work together,” he said.

The consultation closes on Monday, December 1. Visit the Have Your Say section of the council’s website, or search Review of Opening Hours – Library and Information Service, and Scolton Manor.