. . . And Tories call for Bristol's controversial library shake-up to be put on hold

Councillors will decide later this month whether to put a controversial shake up of Bristol's library services on hold.

The Tory group has called for the overhaul to be halted until the details can be examined by a council watchdog.

Tory councillors have laid down a motion at the next council meeting on March 30 following an outcry among library users and staff.

The motion will be moved by Councillor Siobhan Kennedy-Hall (Avonmouth), who said users and staff had not been properly consulted.

She said: "Our libraries represent one of the most important educational and cultural resources in our city.

"As such, we are not convinced that the announced plans represent the best way forward to preserve this heritage for the benefit of future generations."

The overhaul will include the introduction of a self-service system so that users will be able to issue and return their own books.

But it will also mean job cuts which have demoralised staff and led to fears that users will have a poorer service.

The Tory motion reads: "Council requests that this review be put on-hold until the Executive, in concert with Members of the Quality of Life Scrutiny Commission, have had an opportunity to examine the announced measures or 'economies' in greater detail.

"No further steps should be taken towards implementation unless or until alternative options, strategies or courses of action have been fully explored and the findings of this collaborative enquiry reported back to full council."

Library staff are threatening industrial action if talks with the council's senior management break down.

Bristol's Labour group also oppose the cuts.

Spokesman for libraries Cllr Ron Stone Labour's said: "This is typical of the Lib Dems.

"Four years ago when they last ran the council they wanted to close the Central Library altogether.

"This time they want one supervisor to run two libraries so I can't see how that will provide a better service, and why staff should have to reapply for their jobs because there is a £225,000 hole in the budget is wrong and seems grossly unfair."

Senior council officials were criticised by a number of councillors at the last Quality of Life Scrutiny Commission for a lack of consultation.

The number of posts that will be lost is the equivalent of ten full-time staff.

Council officials say the review is essential to address an annual overspend of £235,000.

They have been coping with this deficit by not filling vacancies.

They say the purpose of the review is to make sure staff are employed efficiently so vacancies which remain unfilled create least damage to the service.

But staff say the shake up will affect frontline services.