LISKEARD Library could possibly be saved by the town council should the need arise.

The council says that it does not have the money nor the legal power to take over the running of the current library in the town centre.

However, councillors have agreed that if the library is threatened with closure due to Cornwall Council cuts, they will consider offering free space in one of the town council’s own buildings to save it for the local community.

Cornwall Council has decided to transfer or devolve its county-run library services to town and parish councils or community groups in an attempt to save £1.8m from the annual £4m library budget.

This is part of the council’s overall spending reduction strategy in face of Government cuts.

The town council says to run the library in the large Passmore Edwards building in Barras Street costs Cornwall Council around £96,000 annually.

For Liskeard to cover this cost it would mean raising the town council part of the Council Tax (the local precept) by 25 per cent.

A town council spokesperson said: ‘Our main concern is that Cornwall Council could decide to close the Liskeard library.

‘In view of this, we have asked to be involved in all aspects of any discussions over the future of the service in our town and district.

‘We own three large buildings – the Public Hall, Forresters Hall and Guildhall – which could be considered in an alternative plan to shift the present library into part of one of them.

‘We could save Cornwall Council all the running costs by offering free rental and utilities.’