residents in Old Town are getting the chance to tell their side of the story on how much they value their library.

People trooped in and out of the library yesterday to give their viewpoints as part of a consultation on its future.

The library has been under threat of closure in order to save Swindon Council £22,000.

June Smyth, of Old Town, who was visiting the library, said: “I think the affair has been handled very badly from start to finish. I do hope they keep it open. It acts as a community centre as well as a library as there is no community centre in Old Town. I wish it was bigger but it is better than nothing.”

Martin Styles, 56, of Liden, was renewing a number of books, as he uses the service when he is in the area.

He said: “Old Town deserves a proper library – the Locarno building would make an ideal art gallery and library combined.”

Council officers were busy hearing feedback at the consultation, which ran from 3pm to 7pm.

A second consultation day is planned for April 17 and then a public meeting could be a further possibility.

Swindon Council’s director of housing and leisure, Bernie Brannan, said: “We want people to come and talk to us. We are also looking for ideas from residents. We will feed this information back to cabinet members. In the last 20 minutes since the consultation opened, we have not stopped.”

The Victoria Road facility was due to close by the end of March but the council granted it a reprieve for consultation.

Coun Stan Pajak, (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said: “Everybody in Old Town wants the library to continue. It is about getting the council to understand that.

“Taking over the empty shop next door and expanding this library would be a good idea. It is a great community asset that no one wants to lose.”

Shirley Burnham, who has been campaigning to save Old Town Library, turned up with a placard.

She said: “We hope the council is amenable to having their minds changed if they find enough people want to keep the library.”

Consultations on the fate of Even Swindon and Gorse Hill Libraries are also ongoing.