LIBRARY hours are to be cut back in Dumbarton and the Vale - but by slightly less than first planned.

More than 1,000 residents commented after West Dunbartonshire Council proposed massive changes to library hours in November in a bid to save money.

The council decided to hold a consultation rather than take a committee vote on the move – but the survey itself came in for heavy criticism for running over Christmas, and was extended by a week into the new year.

The survey found nearly a third out of 1,001 responses said the proposed timetable was not suitable, so library bosses added 13 hours in total across West Dunbartonshire.

Alexandria and Dumbarton libraries were to drop to 39.5 hours a week and Balloch to 30.5, cutting 10-17 hours a week.

The new timetable will see Alexandria library drop from 51 hours a week to 43. Dumbarton will drop from 57 hours to 42.5, and Balloch will drop from 40.5 to 31 hours.

Pupils will also be means tested if they hire music instruments during the year for the first time.

The council said the changes would free up savings which could be invested back into the service with a major investment of £421,000 proposed in 2018/19 for improved children’s areas, better display areas, more welcoming help desks, and movable shelving enabling flexible use of space.