Three mobile library vans are being axed in Staffordshire as part of cost-cutting measures by the county council.

The move, which will save the authority £145,000, has been labelled “stupid” and detrimental to people living in small villages and other rural parts of the county.

It will see the frequency of mobile library visits reduced from weekly and fortnightly to every three weeks.

The measure by Staffordshire County Council follows a review of mobile library services across the county.

Cabinet member for communities and culture Councillor Ben Adams will report to the council’s communities scrutiny committee on January 8 that the cut, which will see the number of mobile libraries reduced from 12 to nine, is to be implemented in April.

The visit rota will become once every three weeks from that date, bringing it into line with the three-week loan period from county libraries.

Councillor Adams says that no community will lose its mobile library service as a result of the reduction in vehicles and 90 per cent of stops will remain on the same day of the week.

But Councillor Derek Davis, leader of the Labour group on the council, said the decision to cut three mobile libraries was “stupid.”

“There are several villages desperate for library services. This is something that should not be cut.

“I am disappointed to see library services hit in this way.

“Moving to three-weekly visits is a loss of service. It is detrimental to people living in small villages and hamlets,” said Councillor Davis.

He said he would be raising his objection at the scrutiny committee.

Staffordshire Libraries currently have 12 vehicles providing a library and information service to rural villages and urban areas that are a long way from a library buildings.

They also visit sheltered housing, residential homes and other hard to reach communities.

Five mobile libraries operate from Stafford and the remainder are based at key locations around the county.

Each mobile library carries around 3,500 items of stock including books for children and adults, talking books, DVDs, local history and information. Around 350 communities and 950 stops are currently visited either weekly or fortnightly.