A COUNCILLOR has condemned a decision to remove newspapers from a community library, calling it nothing more than a 'cost cutting exercise'.

Councillor Doug Wilson who represents Copeland for Cumbria County Council has called the proposed changes 'reprehensible,' saying the move will seriously affect the number of people using library services once they take effect on April 1.

"The County Council is trying to stop supplying newspapers to the library.

"This is a cost cutting exercise and it means very little to the people who are cutting the costs, but it means a lot to the people who read them.

"For what it costs I think it is reprehensible and I think they are just looking for a way to make things difficult for people."

Cumbria County Councillor to hold surgery in Millom on Saturday

If the plan goes ahead, it will mean daily printed copies of The Mail and the The Mirror will no longer be stocked, as well as the weekly editions of The Whitehaven News and The Westmorland Gazette.

However, readers would still be able to access their news online, or by using the library in Whitehaven, which will continue to stock the newspapers.

A notice which was recently placed inside the popular library read, "Please note from April 1 we will no longer be supplying physically copies of newspapers or magazines in the library."

Outrage as mound of building waste and mattress dumped in 'one of Britain's most picturesque boroughs'

Despite arrangements being made to help service users still access their news in a digital format, Cllr Wilson believes the move will alienate a number of people who are not able to use technology efficiently.

"You can appreciate anyone who comes in the library to read the newspapers wont be able to read them online," he added.

"People get pleasure from reading the papers. It's upsetting to people.

"If you stop providing services, people will stop coming."

The Millom Town councillor has also vowed to campaign against the changes and said he will "make arrangements" to ensure copies of The Mail are delivered to the premises.

Cumbria County Council's cabinet member for community services was contacted for comment, as was the council leader.