CONCERNED library users in St John’s turned up to voice their objections to proposed changes at the endangered city library on Friday - as the county council admitted a consultation questionnaire was “difficult to understand”.

More than 80 residents crammed into the Glebe Close library - with more standing outside - at a lively roadshow held by the county council to find out the views of library users across the county.

Councillor Lucy Hodgson, cabinet member for communities, visited the library as part of the council’s review into how libraries operate in Worcestershire and what they should look like in the future.

Cllr Richard Udall, who represents St John's and has been vocal about opposing the cuts to the library, said some of the proposed changes were “not acceptable.”

Cllr Hodgson said she could not give any assurance that staff numbers would not be cut at the library.

Many raised concerns over holding the meeting during the afternoon when parents were picking up children from school as well as the difficulties in filling out the consultation questionnaire.

One resident said St John’s library was “more than just about books” and it offered a comfortable meeting place for locals who would be “terrorised” by going to the Hive.

The council said it is working with its democratic services team to create a simpler document.

Some of the proposed changes outlined in the council’s review include reducing hours, axing staff, handing libraries over to communities, co-locating them with other services or making them self-service.

A consultation on the future of all of the libraries across Worcestershire runs until February 2 as the council looks to cut £1million from its library budget over the next three years. A final decision will be made in the spring.

The council said it is giving communities in Worcestershire the opportunity to play an increasingly important role in how their local libraries are run.

The county council has said it will only close libraries as a very last resort but draft budget plans released on Thursday (December 6) said around £245,000 would be cut in the next financial year but no concrete plans regarding closures were announced.