COVINGHAM library is not facing the axe, despite a leaked report that suggested cuts could be made.

As revealed in the Adver last week, a document drawn up by council officers suggested making savings of up to £290,000 by making cuts at nine branch libraries, including Covingham.

But now ward councillor Dale Heenan has denied there are any plans to make cuts at Covingham Library.

He said: “After the article I had a lot of calls from residents who were very worried about what they had heard.

“I rang the deputy leader of the council to see what was going on. After speaking to Coun Foley I am reassured that the library is not under threat.”

The report proposed cuts at all four libraries mentioned in the 2009/10 budget – Old Town, Walcot, Even Swindon and Gorse Hill, as well as at Covingham, Liden, Moredon and Rodbourne Cheney, Penhill and Pinehurst.

Measures suggested include using mobile libraries, replacing staff with volunteers and relocating libraries to schools or sports centres.

Coun Heenan said the report had been a series of proposals as part of the budget setting process, which had eventually been rejected out of hand.

But Coun Nick Martin, the cabinet member in charge of libraries, has already admitted to the Adver that he can not rule out the use of volunteers in other libraries.

That model has been taken up by Walcot library, which will now be staffed by members of the community shop.

Speaking in the Adver on March 19, Coun Martin said: “It is an innovative way of keeping a library service and that’s what we are looking at in this consultation. The problem is the staffing costs but if we can find charitable organisations or members of the community who are willing to work with us then it could be an interesting solution.”

But Coun Heenan said no suggestions of using volunteers at Covingham library had been put to him.

He said: “Currently there has been no discussion of any cuts at the library, whether using volunteers or other suggestions.

“If a proposal was put before us we would have to look at how it would affect the library. I would certainly never let it close without a fight.

“The library is very well-used and residents were worried by the reports they saw.

“The fact that the library has recently undergone refurbishment underlines our commitment to it.”