A NUMBER of Hampshire libraries are set to close for good putting up to 50 jobs at risk.

Eight of the 48 council run libraries across the county are set to close as civic chiefs try to save £1.76m.

Hampshire County Council is proposing to shut libraries in Blackfield and Lyndhurst in the New Forest, Fair Oak Library in Fair Oak,  South Ham  in Basingstoke, Elson library in Gosport, Horndean in East Hampshire,Lee-on-the-Solent library in Gosport and Odiham library in Hart.

Meanwhile, Chineham library in Basingstoke and  Emsworth library in Havant  - which were also under threat - would remain open.

All the remaining libraries would have their opening hours reduced by 20%, with a public consultation on the details set to be launched next month.

But county bosses said that the opening hours of some libraries could increase or decrease by up to 39% "to achieve a standardised approach".

The authority is also proposing to withdraw its support to Lowford Community Library, Milford-on-Sea Community Library and North Baddesley Community Library which would be turned into independent community-managed libraries. 

But county bosses said volunteers running these libraries will be able to apply for grants to support the transition and will have access to a larger stock thanks to a membership scheme.

The proposals are recommended for approval as Cllr Sean Woodward, executive member for recreation and heritage at the county council, will make a final decision next Tuesday.

The news comes as more than 21,000 residents took part in a public consultation launched by the authority earlier this year.

As reported, the county council was proposing the closure of up to 10 libraries, including those in Chineham and  Emsworth, with  a  15% reduction in opening hours for the remaining ones.

This was regarded as the county council's preferred option but residents were also asked to have their say on a different option which would have seen no closures but a 25% reduction in opening hours for all of the 48 libraries.

Civic chiefs said that 58% of those who responded to the consultation preferred to avoid closures.

The authority said the proposals to close eight libraries and reduce opening hours by 20% take into account the outcome of the public consultation.

Cllr Sean Woodward, executive member for recreation and heritage at the county council, said the county council does not intend to sell the buildings off.

"We want to see these buildings remain in  community use," he added.

Talking about the jobs at risk, Cllr Woodward said civic chiefs are looking into voluntary redundancies rather than compulsory redundancies and hope to be able to offer new opportunities to the employees affected.

The news comes as official documents have also revealed that due to the pandemic the county council will have to save hundreds of thousands of pounds by 2023.

When asked whether this means that more libraries will be under threat over the coming years, Cllr Woodward said: "I really hope we won't get to that situation. I think it is important that we get a period of stability which we had for a long period in Hampshire."

He said the current proposals will guarantee a comprehensive library service in Hampshire.