MEMBERS of the protest group fighting to save Llandysul Library are “cautiously optimistic” of finding a way forward after an apparent U-turn by Ceredigion County Council within 48 hours.

Llandysul Library Supporters’ Group had claimed that their alter­native plan to set up a network of volunteers working alongside qualified staff could prevent the axe falling on all the county’s static libraries.

On Tuesday of last week, the plan – entitled The Equitable Proposal – was dismissed by a county council spokesman who said: “The remaining libraries in Ceredigion will be customer access hubs for all face-to-face customer enquiries, therefore the use of volunteers would not be an option.”

But then at Thursday’s meeting of the scrutiny committee, chairman Gareth Davies expressed the desire to arrange a visit by councillors to the library in late June, adding that the issue would be discussed at a meeting on Thursday, 7 July.

Llandysul councillor Peter Evans subsequently revealed campaigners would be allowed to stage a 15 to 20-minute presentation prior to the discussion.

“I think that if we can get The Equit­able Proposal through to councillors then we stand a fighting chance,” Cllr Evans told the Cambrian News.

Cllr Evans conceded that one pitfall of the group’s plan was that it would mean redundancies in two-and-a-half full-time posts.

“I don’t want to see anyone lose their jobs, but I don’t want to see any libraries close either,” he added.

Llandysul Library Supporters’ Group spokesperson Lesley Parker said: “I’m convinced that councillors will listen to us and subsequently have a discussion, but what happens after that is anyone’s guess.”

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