TELEVISION naturalist Chris Packham has hit out at proposals that could see six Southampton libraries close.

The Springwatch presenter, who grew up in the city and used Cobbett Road Library, spoke out as Labour council leaders prepare to take a decision on the facilities next week.

After aFollowing a review last year, city council chiefs could decide to stop running Cobbett Road, Burgess Road, Thornhill, Weston and Millbrook libraries.

That would mean the libraries would close unless community groups come forward to take on their running, while the mobile library service will also close.

Mr Packham has been an outspoken campaigner in support of the city’s libraries and visited Cobbett Road shortly after the review in the future of the librarieswas launched.

last year.If the council’s cabinet approves the plans at a meeting next week, they will stop running the libraries by next April – saving £283,000 a year in the process – but costing six jobs. LabourThe council insist the plans would still leave the city with an “efficient” library service, while also allowing them to design a service to meet the demands of the 21st century.

But ahead of next week’s cabinet meeting, Mr Packham has launched a scathing attack on the proposals, saying: “I’m really disappointed.

“Like everyone else, I understand we are in a time of austerity, as much as they say the recession is over, the impact continues.

“But to not invest in the future education of our populace and not provide these essential repositories of engagement, knowledge and education seems to be a sad oversight.

“It’s so typical and irresponsible of a council to take this sort of action.

“We are talking about £286,000, which to you and I is a lot of money but in the grand scheme of council funding is not a lot of money.

“Children in this city will walk past closed doors behind which there was a vast repository of things which could ignite a lifelong passion and provide them with enormous resources, but instead they will be led to what, another shopping centre?

“What a dull future we are making for our city.”

Labour council bosses have stressed that they will remain open if groups take on their management but Mr Packham is sceptical that community groups will be able to do thatand say there have already been several “informal” expressions of interest.

However He said: “You are looking for that skill set and there needs to be someone who knows how to run a buildingIt requires a huge amount of energy and a lot of dedication and that precise skill set andI think it’s a big ask to try and get that out of a small community.”