A PURPOSE built popular library could be on the move as a result of council cash saving plans.

A transfer of West Kilbride Library from its current building to the village's community centre on the cards as North Ayrshire Council looks to slash its budget spend.

The local facility is one of a number of libraries and community facilities currently under threat.

The two storey building, which is in the heart of the village, was built in 1986 and had an asset value at £352,000 when it was last evaluated in 2013.

A group of locals staged a protest outside the library to oppose the move during a recent consultation event.

Cllr. Todd Ferguson, whose ward covers West Kilbride, said local people are against any move.

He said: "The community are against any such proposal.

"There was a recent meeting which was attended by 120 people. With 175 houses due to be built at Summerlea, it doesn't make sense to lose facilities.

"I am fully supportive of keeping the library in its current position. The building was built after a lot of work by former Conservative councillor Edith Clarkson who pushed for a purpose built structure constructed specifically with a library facility in mind.

"It could be a dual facility with other services moved in rather than scrapped."

Villager Kay Hall, who sits on the community council, told the 'News': "North Ayrshire Council need to make reductions so buildings are being reviewed across the authority.

"It looks like West Kilbride value the library service so in order to be able to close a building there would probably be a transfer of this service to the community centre.

"An online consultation has been posted on local Facebook pages including the Community Council's. Local groups have also emailed the link to members.

"Sadly there has been a decrease in use of libraries by our community - perhaps keeping a service, albeit in a different place, is not a bad option.

"I hope there may be ideas for the library building to take on a new role for the village but times are hard and funding is very difficult to find."

Resident Henrietta McClure said: "It is such an important amenity which is well used by young and old alike. It must be protected."

The building is owned by North Ayrshire Council and become home to the library service after it transferred from the village hall building in Arthur Street in the mid-1980s. The council review says that the premises on Halfway Street is a 'busy library which operates for 25 hours per week, with 43,071 annual visitors, 28,083 issues and 3,723 computer bookings'.

The library hosts a number of events and functions including author visits, a film and a knitting club, library club, the poetry group and politicians' surgeries.