ISOLATED villages will be dealt a blow as a council prepares to scrap its mobile library service.

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council is consulting on whether to axe the service, which visits 35 locations on a two-week rotation and provides a service to those in more remote communities who would find it difficult to visit normal libraries.

Independent councillor Steve Kay, who represents Lingdale and Moorsholm, two of the villages affected, said: “In order to keep its static libraries open, Labour-led Redcar & Cleveland Council is preparing to wipe out the mobile library service altogether.

"This will be a blow to the villagers of East Cleveland who rely heavily on the service, not to mention the village primary schools which take advantage of the mobile library’s regular visits.

"The library's role is to provide library and customer access services to those in isolated communities who would find it difficult to visit normal libraries.

"In many ways, it is a flagship for the council in the villages.

“The council argues that the mobile library duplicates the service provided by the static libraries, but this is just not true. Villages like Lingdale, Moorsholm, Boosbeck, Margrove Park, Liverton, Skinningrove, Carlin How and Easington have no nearby alternative.

"Furthermore, not everybody can drive a car and in villages, like Moorsholm, bus services are extremely infrequent.

“It is a case of taking away the last vestige of council support from villages already deprived of council services. As well as being a book-borrowing service, the mobile library provides a link to other council services and a valued social hub.

Cllr Kay said after the cutback, Redcar will continue to have four static libraries but the small East Cleveland villages will have nothing.

He added: "It is yet another case of Labour favouring the urban areas at the expense of the rural communities.

“The council claims to promote life-long education for all its residents. Villagers of all ages are now to be deprived of this vital life-long learning facility.

“I would urge mobile library users to contact their councillors so that this element of the budget proposals can be voted down, irrespective of the opinion of the Labour cabinet. Residents can find their councillors’ details on Redcar & Cleveland Council’s website.”

Moorsholm resident Sue Jacques said: “I am a big reader and visit the mobile library almost every time it comes to Moorsholm. Everything that goes on in the village is organised by the people. I think the council has forgotten we exist. The plan to cut the mobile library is the last straw. As well as the books, it was just nice to visit and have a chat with the other users and staff. I am not a driver and there are hardly any convenient buses visiting Moorsholm.

“I just hope someone is listening and the mobile library will be spared.”

The council has said that the mobile library has low usage and is consulting local residents about the service.