LIBRARY campaigners have scored a victory after the county council backed down on plans to close Cinderford' s library.

It will instead join Lydney Library in becoming a 'Library Express' which will be open up to a maximum of 32 hours per week.

Town, district and county councillor Graham Morgan said he was over the moon that the library had been saved.

"This is brilliant news because there is no way we could have run a volunteer-run library serving a community the size of Cinderford," he said.

"The town's regeneration is not just about building factories but offering educational facilities to the people.

"With so many consultations it is like going through the motions but they actually listened to us."

Jo Price, from Ruardean Hill, said: "I was quite worried about it closing as I don't have the internet at home.

"I use the library about three times a week and it is convenient because I do my shopping in Cinderford."

Colin Grant, who lives in Cinderford, said: "It would have been a real pain to have to go all the way to Coleford just to get a book."

Demelza Jones, from Friends of Gloucestershire Libraries, said the Cinderford reprieve was a step in the right direction.

"Our concern is that Bream, Newnham and Mitcheldean are still under threat," she said.

"We are calling for an independent review because we have really big concerns about this. There has been no action on mobile libraries which will have a huge impact on rural areas if they are cut."

Anna Wilson, who is campaigning for Mitcheldean Library to be saved, said: "I'm delighted that they are saving Cinderford and we are definitely not giving up on Mitcheldean.

"We will be throwing ourselves into the day of action on Saturday and I'll be exploring all options on what else we can do."

Leader of the county council Mark Hawthorne said: "When we talked to the people of Cinderford, it became clear that this was about more than just the library, it was about the regeneration of the town as whole.

"Cinderford is a unique location and there are wider issues that need to be addressed here.

"The plans on the table now ensure the library remains at the heart of the community and they provide scope for possibly developing it into a community hub in future.

"There's no doubt that we've had to make some tough decisions to meet the financial pressures we're under, but I hope this demonstrates that we are listening to what local people are telling us and we're acting on their feedback."

Forest MP Mark Harper said: "On behalf of my constituents I would like to thank the council for listening and finding the extra funding to do this.

"I'm sure everyone in Cinderford and the surrounding areas will be very pleased."

Liberal Democrat Leader Coun Jeremy Hilton said the battle to save the library network would continue.

"This is not extra money; the library budget of £6.8 million will now be reduced to £5.3 million instead of £4.8 million – a cut of £2 million," he said.