COUNCILLORS could step in this week to keep paid staff at a village library.

Kirklees Council wants to remove its employees from seven centres in rural areas.

Officials want volunteers to take over the running of libraries in Shepley, Denby Dale, Slaithwaite, Golcar, Honley, Lepton and Kirkheaton.

But Clr Derek Hardcastle this week called for Mirfield, Denby Dale and Kirkburton Area Committee – which meets tomorrow night – to step in and meet the cost of keeping staff in Shepley.

The committee provides grassroots funding for things like grit bins, hanging baskets and community festivals.

Clr Hardcastle believes the group should use some of its money to protect Shepley Library.

He said: “Figures provided by Kirklees have indicated that the current Shepley Library staff costs are around £24,000 a year. Coincidentally, the funding for 2011/12 that is allocated to the Kirkburton area through the area committee is underspent by a similar amount.”

“This funding is not allocated to any projects and I will propose at the area committee meeting that we allocate these unutilised funds to the libraries budget and specifically earmark those funds to retain a fully staffed service at Shepley Library.”

Clr Hardcastle believes the funding could buy time to find a long-term plan for the Shepley library. The Kirkburton Green said: “No changes to the library service are due to occur in 2012/13, so this funding would be allocated for the 2013/14 financial year and would give us two years to plan a secure funded future for the library.

“By 2014 the funding outlook may be more optimistic. Our proposal would be at no additional cost to the council taxpayer and would give us the breathing space we need to produce a plan for a sustainable future for this vital community facility.

“All Shepley Library needs now is the support of my two Kirkburton ward councillors – colleagues from the Conservative Party (Clr Adrian Murphy and Clr Christine Smith) – to agree this proposal and then we can put this proposal forward to the council.”

The area committee meets at Huddersfield Town Hall at 4pm tomorrow.