THE developers behind Chineham District Centre would welcome working with volunteers to ensure the library can open for longer.

As previously reported, Hampshire County Council announced last month that Chineham library would remain open, after it previously announced it was on a shortlist to close.

However, it, along with the 39 other surviving facilities across the county, face having their opening hours slashed by up to 39 per cent in cutbacks to save £1.76 million from the library service.

But HCC's executive member for recreation and heritage, Cllr Sean Woodward, said that the authority would facilitate community groups who wish to extend their diminished hours.

It would involve volunteers running the library during some of the hours that it is not staffed by HCC.

Now, the day before a decision is due on the proposed redevelopment of Chineham District Centre, Tellon Capital, owners, have welcomed the decision.

James Burchell, director of Tellon, said: "We were delighted, we were very actively involved in supporting the case for the library to stay open.

"We talked about being at the heart of the community, and the library is very much part of that. It’s engagement, we are a community centre, and a library is very much part of that.

"Libraries are changing as the world has changed.

"We would be very supportive [if volunteers would like to open the library for longer].

"We don’t own the library but we’ve got it on our site and our centre manager works with the library and the community.

"If there were volunteers that were working, I know there’s a number of organisations, we’d be delighted."

As previously reported, Chineham library is set to open for 12 hours a week less than before.

The facility will close on Monday and Sunday as usual, as well as now on Thursday. It will only open for half a day on Wednesday, but an hour longer on Saturday.

The hours are currently out for consultation by HCC, and you can have your say here.