The Minister for the Arts opened it with much fanfare in March 1988, holding it up as a beacon of council excellence. Fast forward 25 years and after countless – and costly – consultations, pay reviews, job evaluations, and restructuring, Ross Library is at crisis point. The news this week that the library service will have a crippling 75% slashed from its budget, has been met with a mixture of disbelief, incredulity and mounting anger.

It is understood there will be just £250,000 county wide for the library budget. Currently it spends £236,000 on book acquisition alone. "We knew there was going to be a shortfall," someone close to the Library told the Gazette. "We knew it was going to be hard but this is a domesday scenario. It is fundamentally, morally and ideologically wrong. It is like Dr Beeching for local government. People talk wistfully about the return of trains. Well, they may be talking like that about libraries. Once they are gone they are gone and there is no going back."

The Council have sought to reassure library users in the face of what some are describing as 'the destruction of our cultural heritage in Herefordshire.' A Council spokesperson told the Gazette: "Herefordshire Council's cabinet will be meeting this week (Thursday May 16th) to consider budget proposals put forward for the council to meet its significant financial challenges for the next two years and beyond.

"The proposals will have a big impact on cultural services in the county, but at the same time will take into consideration the statutory duties of local authorities in relation to these services.

"These are still only at the proposal stage, no decision on anything suggested has been made and the council intends to work closely with other public bodies, other local authorities, community organisations, and residents to find a sustainable future for its cultural services, including libraries."

A swift photocall organised by Caroline Bennett at Ross Library on Monday afternoon rallied the troops in a show of support. Newly-installed Mayor, Councillor Chris Bartrum, said: "I'm a member of Ross Library Development Group. It's madness not to take advantage of the capital investment that's been made in the Library. But it needs somebody with expertise to look at what the situation is. We will have to come up with a proposal because we can't let it shut."

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.