County in a spin over mobile libraries

5.22.14pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 3rd Jan 2006

A senior Liberal Democrat councillor has accused Hampshire County Council of failing to deliver promised improvements to the mobile library service.

Peter Chegwyn asked County officials for an update on planned new vehicles for the mobile library service.

'The reply tries to put a gloss on the slow progress in getting new vehicles into service,' says Cllr Chegwyn. 'But the truth is that one year on from when 12 new vehicles should have come into use,

only two have so far done so.'

A third should appear in January and two more may appear in February if deemed acceptable when inspected in January. The specification for two more hasn't even been confirmed. At best they'll arrive next May.

'That leaves five on which work hasn't even started,' says the Lib Dem libraries spokesman. 'The county must concentrate on delivering better services rather than trying to spin its way out of trouble.'