A CAMPAIGN has been launched to save the Largs Library hub that will culminate in a protest march through the town.

Largs Writers Group is urging the community to get behind their fight to save the facility and make themselves heard at the demonstration on 16 October.

Jack Muir, of the Writers Group, says locals must rally against North Ayrshire Council's proposals to 'disrupt and divide' the services provided by the library that has served the town since 1981.

It comes following a recent community consultation concerning the future of library services in the area - with possible options including downsizing to the Vikingar! or Largs Campus.

Jack said: "The building is much more than a library - it is a community hub and a terrific resource which we would not like to see lost.

"The library is central to the town - the other locations are not.

"There are as many as 20 different user groups of the building, including the Writers Group and the family historical society.

"We have asked these groups to get involved in the protest walk and we have put notices up. We are hoping to get a petition started too.

"We don't want to see the destruction of an existing community hub that is consistently well used. The only other community hub in town is the Brisbane Centre and the council are talking about getting rid of that as well.

"It sounds ludicrous to split up an existing well run establishment.

"Where would all the children's activities and adult events which take place in the library go to? I would say to everyone reading this, please support this protest walk by joining us at Largs Library Hub carpark at 2pm.

"All library users, young and old, are welcome, including parents with children.

The recent consultation into the future of library services has been completed, but Jack has also voiced concerns about what will happen next.

He added: "All these bits of paper that we have been asked to fill out, who looks at them and change can our words affect?

"We want to have a visible protest and are asking for as many people to turn out as possible rather than write something on a piece of paper which will go in the bin."

The library moved from the Brisbane Centre to its current premises in 1981 and has a community room and car park.

However, council cuts in recent years have seen the opening hours slashed.

The library received 80,691 visitors and 12,609 computer bookings last year while the community room is also described by the council as 'heavily used'.

The council have also given assurances to the public than any 'downsizing' of the library would not lead to any job losses.

The asset value of the library given in 2013 was £633,000.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Each response is recorded and analysed by theme. Where an individual response was requested at the event, officers recorded contact details and will provide a direct reply.

“The purpose of the consultation was to determine which services are important to communities with a view to maximising the delivery of these in community hub locations while reducing the number of buildings for which the council is responsible.

“A cabinet report in November will include a summary of the consultation which in turn will inform next steps in the context of the council’s challenging medium-term financial framework."