THE future of Rubery Library has been thrown into doubt with fears it could close, despite council chiefs saying they have no intentions to close any library.

There were fears the library had been earmarked for closure as part of cost cutting by Worcestershire County Council.

The council has said there are no intentions to close Rubery Library.

However, councillor Peter McDonald said he was told it was still under threat of closure.

The news only came to light after cllr McDonald tried to get a scent garden built outside the library.

He said: “I have been trying for a number of years to have a Scent Garden created on the green that fronts the library in New road, Rubery.

"Believing the library was no longer under threat of closure there would be no objection to the proposal: as the green is in an ideal location and would become a prominent feature in Rubery’s high street.

"Funding for the project having been secured, I was shocked to now be told the library is still under threat of closure - even though on Thursday, November 7 in reply to my question at a full council meeting regarding the library’s future, I was informed by the portfolio holder responsible that it was not under threat of closure."

More than 1,400 people signed a petition calling on the county council to save the embattled library.

The Advertiser previously reported that library users in the county were told to ‘use it or lose it’ by the county council as part of a consultation to help the authority save £800,000.

In November last year a group of protestors gathered outside the building with Labour cllr McDonald, who organised a petition urging locals to show their support for the building.

The cllr added: "I have asked the chief executive to clarify the situation as it is obvious to the residents of Rubery that they are not being told the truth but being treated with contempt by a bunch of charlatans who control the council.”

Hannah Needham, Worcestershire County Council’s assistant director for communities, said: “Following approval from the county council's cabinet in July, the library service has developed a proposed library strategy which sets out the longer term ambitions for the service for the next five years.

"It has been informed by the recent consultation exercise which revealed a strong preference for retaining libraries as cultural hubs and safe, community spaces. Therefore there are no intentions to close Rubery Library or any of our other libraries."

The proposed library strategy will be discussed by Worcestershire County Council chiefs later this month.