COUNCILLORS on Ceredigion County Council's Cabinet are to hear next week (Tuesday) that a decision on the future of the county's library services has been delayed.

It follows the outcome of the council's Corporate Resource Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting last week.

Councillors on that committee said more details were needed before a decision in relation to the library service, and in particular the possible closure of Llandysul library, should be made.

They have now requested that all information in relation to the council's library services is presented to the corporate resources committee before any recommendation is made.

This would include the usage data and running costs of each library in the county.

The date for this new meeting has been confirmed as Monday, February 8.

Results from the recent public consultation showed that 42 people favoured option one - the closure of Llandsyul library, a reduction of mobile vans by two and the relocation of Cardigan library.

Ninety people favoured option two - the closure of Llandysul library and reduction one mobile van and the relocation of Cardigan Library.

The difference between the two options was the loss of one library van, with Llandysul set to close either way.

A further 319 people said they did not agree with either option.

Following the scrutiny meeting, Cllr Mark Cole commented: "Though I'm not a member of the Corporate Services scrutiny committee, I could have attended to view proceedings but decided that it was a waste of time to do so because it was considering the consultation responses a week after the council's cabinet had agreed on moving Cardigan Library.

"I gather that the meeting was suspended because of a lack of information. From what I gather, it sounded like a farce which is apt because the same could be said of the whole consultation process".

Since news broke that Llandysul had been earmarked for closure, campaigners have been fighting to keep the town's library open.

Protesters have been picketing outside the county council offices before key meetings, with another protest due to take place before the Cabinet meeting in Aberaeron on Tuesday morning.