Libraries in and around Watford will have their opening hours slashed and their doors closed to the public as council spending cuts continue to bite.

Hertfordshire County Council, responsible for the upkeep and operation of the county’s library buildings, is attempting to save some £150million over the next three years and has vowed “to squeeze every penny” in order to do so.

By October last year it had earmarked up to £110million of savings, but was left with a shortfall of £40million to address before its budget is finalised at the end of next month.

Armed with the results of a county-wide public consultation, the authority has drawn up detailed plans to trim 661 hours from opening times across the county.

It is anticipated that £580,000 will be saved in 2011/12 and £1.4million in 2012/13 and 2013/14 if the recommendations are agreed by the council’s ruling cabinet at a meeting on Monday.

If agreed, local libraries will be affected as follows:

  • Watford: Opening hours would be cut from 65 to 51. Will close one hour early, at 7pm, on weekdays and Wednesday and Friday mornings.
  • North Watford: Opening hours would be cut from 55 to 37. Would close on Thursdays, and Monday and Wednesday mornings, opening from 2pm until 7pm. Friday hours would be extended until 7pm.
  • Bovingdon: Weekly opening hours cut from 36 to 30. On Mondays and Thursdays it would be open between 9am and 6pm, and on Saturdays, between 9am and 1pm. However, it would close all day on Wednesdays.
  • Kings Langley: Weekly opening hours cut from 36 to 30. Would open five hours later on Tuesdays and Thursdays, between 2pm and 6pm. Would remain open between 9pm and 6pm on Mondays and Fridays.
  • Leverstock Green: Would see its hours cut by just four, with the building closed all day on a Thursday.
  • Bushey: Would have its opening hours slashed from 54 to 33, closing all day on Thursdays. Would close Monday and Wednesday mornings, opening between 2pm and 6pm in the afternoon and would close one hour early on Fridays.
  • Radlett: Would have its opening hours cut from 48 to 33. Would close all day on Wednesdays, and Monday and Thursday mornings, opening between 2pm and 6pm. Would also close one hour early on Fridays, but Saturdays opening hours would be extended until 4pm.
  • Rickmansworth: Opening hours would be cut from 56 to 37. Would close on Wednesdays, and Friday and Tuesday mornings, opening between 2pm and 7pm. Will open one hour earlier on Mondays, at 9am.
  • Oxhey: Opening hours would be cut from 52 to 33. Would close on Wednesdays, and Monday and Friday mornings, opening between 2pm and 6pm. Would also close one hour early on Thursdays.
  • Abbots Langley: Opening hours would be cut by six hours. Would close on Wednesdays, and Monday and Thursday mornings, opening between 2pm and 6pm.
  • Chorleywood: Opening hours would be cut from 48 to 33. Would close on Tuesdays, and Wednesday and Friday mornings. Saturdays hours would be extended until 4pm.
  • Croxley Green: Opening hours would be cut from 50 to 33. Would close on Thursdays, and Monday and Wednesday mornings. Saturdays hours would be extended until 4pm, but would close one hour earlier, at 6pm, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

A decision will also be made on a proposal to slash the service provided by the fleet of mobile libraries by withdrawing vehicles and reducing stops by the remaining fleet. This would save more than £600,000 over the next three years.

What do you think of the planned hours reductions? How will it affect you? Let us know by commenting below.