NEW fears have been voiced over the future of Keighley's historic library.

Opening hours are set to be cut at the North Street building and other Bradford Council-run libraries across the district.

And additional money-saving measures are being introduced, including the scrapping of national newspaper provision.

In total, the council is looking to chop £175,000 from its libraries service.

The plans have come under fire, amid concerns that more reductions in provision could follow.

Simon Pollard, 69, a regular user of the library for much of his life, describes the cuts as "a disgrace".

"Keighley's is a primary library and it should be protected," he says.

"Instead, we are seeing a steady erosion of provision.

"It was the first public Carnegie library and was given for the people of the town.

"The withdrawal of national newspapers may not seem like a major issue to some, but it is symptomatic of the gradual cutting away of services.

"It's a disgrace."

A meeting of the council's executive heard that opening hours would be reduced by up to 15 per cent at the district's 10 council-run libraries.

The cuts could see libraries close early or open later some days, or shut for an hour over lunch.

A report to the executive acknowledged that the changes could lead to redundancies.

Members voted to move ahead with the proposals, and consultations on the reduced hours will begin soon.

Officers told councillors that volunteer-run libraries in the district, as well as 'hybrid' facilities operated by a mix of council staff and volunteers, would not be affected.

Christine May, manager of Bradford Libraries, said: "The option to reduce hours would achieve savings and have less of an impact on our statutory service than other options might."

The scrapping of national newspaper provision, which is expected to save £11,000 a year, was questioned by Councillor Debbie Davies.

"Many people come to libraries for social reasons – and some can’t afford to buy a paper each day," she said.

Cllr Davies added that some library users would not have the computer skills to access an online newspaper system offered by libraries.

Mrs May said: "As a service we do have a role in encouraging people to become digitally enabled. We can’t afford to offer both paper and digital copies at the current time."