PLANNED cuts to library services in Bolton would mean several reducing the number of days they are open and the central library and the branches slashing their hours of opening.

Bolton Council operates 10 libraries, three museums, an aquarium and the History Centre, where the archives are kept.

The council is currently consulting on reducing hours at some libraries and the history centre as well as reducing the support for neighbourhood collection sites, run by the council’s partners, where people can choose from a small selection of books, collect books they have reserved from other libraries and use public computers.

The libraries and museums department needs to make savings of around £430,000 in response to reduced council budgets.

The proposed changes would mean Harwood library would close on Sundays and Mondays and High Street library would also close on Sundays.

Horwich library would not open on Wednesday afternoons as it does now.

The proposals would also result in many libraries opening up at 10am and not 9am as they do presently.

Those changes would apply to the branches in Blackrod, Breightmet, Bromley Cross, Farnworth, Harwood, High Street, Horwich, Little Lever and Westhouhgton.

Earlier closing times are also proposed for those venues on many days.

The central library which opens at 8.15am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays would revert to a 9am opening time on those days.

Closing times at the central branch would remain unaltered, as would the opening times of the aquarium, central museum, Smithills Hall and Hall i’th Wood museums.

One resident campaigning to retain the services is Francesca Platt, from Breightmet.

She said that Bolton’s library service “was being dismantled bit by bit”.

She is urging people to take part in the consultation to resist any cuts.

She said: “Our libraries are essential and we need to protect these free to use community assets.

“This last year when people have been isolated, so many, particularly older, people have found company and entertainment and a link to the outside world and community through them.

“There’s also the learning and the sessions they hold for families and children.

“They are a safe, warm place they provide for anyone who needs it no questions asked and provide access to computers for benefit claim uploading and job searching. The list is endless.”

A Bolton Council, spokesman said: “While we are not proposing to close any libraries or museums, the service does need to make savings.

“The proposed opening hours have been suggested after looking carefully at when our libraries and museums are most used and reducing opening hours when there is little demand from the public.”

The public consultation can be found on Bolton Council’s website until Wednesday, July 21.