BRANCH libraries in Newport will close on Saturday afternoons as part of a bid to save around £20,000.

This was just one of the decisions made by Newport City Council’s cabinet member for leisure and continuing learning, Mike Hamilton.

He also decided that the central library will close at 4pm on Saturdays, lone working will be introduced, the music and DVD library will be withdrawn and Oriels Cafe in the central library will be replaced with vending machines.

These decisions were made on Wednesday as part of a review of this year's revenue budget.

Pill, Carnegie and Stow Hill libraries are already closed on Saturdays and St Julians is open until 1pm.

The change will mean all other sites, which are currently open until 5pm, will also close on Saturday afternoons.

This is predicted to save around £20,000 and was the council's preferred choice to closing individual sites totally.

Alway councillor Ray Truman called this decision “counterproductive” and described Ringland library as packed with young people on a Saturday afternoon.

He said: “It makes more sense to me to have people using the facilities in the library rather than be locked outside the building with nothing to do.”

The central library currently opens until 5pm on a Saturday and shares the building with the Museum and Art Gallery which both close at 4pm.

A report by the council's community learning and libraries manager said keeping the library in line with the rest of the building will allow for a small saving.

Another change will be the gradual withdrawal of the music and DVD library as the stock levels and condition of items deteriorates and will save £10,000.

The council said providing music and DVDs is not a statutory requirement and that the service is not used significantly.

The report also stated how the Oriel Cafe in the central library has been underused.

It will therefore be changed from a staffed cafe into a vending service with a small seating area.

Stow Hill, Caerleon, Rogerstone and Malpas libraries will use the lone worker arrangement.

The report said this will need further risk assessment and consultation with staff before formally put in place but is estimated to save around £10,000.