JUST over 12 months since moving to new premises as part of the revamped Knighton Community Centre Hub, the town library is among those facing closure in savage Powys County Council cuts.

A crisis meeting to try to keep it open is to be held on Monday evening by Knighton Town Council with the Community Centre Committee and the Friends of the Community Centre.

“I am awaiting confirmation of the annual operating costs which are around £19,000 and maybe between us we can keep it open in some form although with a salary cut and more volunteering,” town clerk Neil King told the County Times on Wednesday.

The library moved from its former premises to great fanfare to ensure its survival and it has become an essential part of the community centre including hosting the town’s first literary festival last year and with events for children such as the Lego Club.

“It’s a bit upsetting as it was only about 12 months ago there was all that ceremony to mark its opening and then tio learn that it is threatened but obviously there’s a will for the town council and the community centre and the Friends to work together o keep it open somehow.

“Whether or not it will be exactly the same as it is now is is another thing. Maybe more volunteering and salary cuts will. be needed but we won’t really know until next Monday,” said Mr King.

Local AM and Welsh Government education minister Kirsty Williams was one of the leading lights at the opening of the new library and Mr King said maybe she needs to be brought in again to help fight their corner for more funding in the same way as it had helped keep open the town’s sports centre.

“The trouble is Powys always gets the lowest level of rate support grant of the 22 local authorities in Wales and the grant meets at least two thirds of the county council spending.

“If Kirsty Williams was able to get the Welsh Government to grant even a half percent increase on what we have now then that would be enough to save all this,” said Mr King.

He said the library has ben a popular and integral part of the community hub created following the renovation and refurbishment of the community centre and no one wanted to see it close.