Politicians say moving village libraries on to the same site as fire stations will keep running costs down but villagers say the new location will be less convenient.

Hertfordshire County Council has proposed a plan to move libraries in Redbourn, Wheathampstead and Sawbridgeworth from their current homes to the same site as their village fire stations.

The aim of the proposal is to deliver attractive, flexible and tech-enabled libraries in convenient locations, while freeing-up the existing library sites for alternative uses.

A feasibility study has shown these plans are cost effective and meet the needs of both services, but the county council will now discuss the proposals with the relevant planning authorities, before holding public exhibitions in the early summer.

Cabinet member for public health, localism and libraries, Teresa Heritage, said: “Sharing sites can keep our running costs down without sacrificing services during this time of financial pressure.

“We are committed to sustaining library services across the county, and this shows how we are working creatively with partners and communities to achieve this.”

Richard Thake, cabinet member for community safety, added: “Fire stations and libraries are both at the heart of the communities they serve and it makes perfect sense to use space more flexibly at our village fire stations to support other important local services.

“This scheme will help to support the long-term future of both our local fire stations and local libraries. It’s a great example of how public services can work together creatively to improve value for money.”

One man who lives in Wheathampstead, Barry Arnold, agrees the library moves may save the country council money, but says the Wheathampstead library’s proposed new location is not convenient.

He said: “The current library is very conveniently located, up the road, in the parish’s memorial hall where is ample parking.

“Adults and children pop in before and after classes held in the hall.

“School students are dropped off at the adjacent bus stop and use the library after school.

“Parents and children using the nearby sports facilities come in, as do users of the adjacent doctors’ surgery.

“The main users of the library tend to be older residents but there are also plenty of children who currently use it.

“Before they act, the country council public health, localism and libraries cabinet panel should ask the local library users where they want their library moved to a less convenient location.”

Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service share the same view as the county council.

Chris Bigland, assistant chief fire officer at Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service, said: “It makes absolute sense to use public buildings as effectively as possible, wherever appropriate.

“We are committed to delivering great libraries within our buildings in partnership with colleagues from the library service.

“It’s an excellent opportunity to use the draw of the fire station to get younger learners into reading while allowing the fire service to educate the community through library visits on many aspects of safety.

“The icing on the cake would be to show members of local communities what the fire service is all about and maybe even entice a few to become on-call firefighters in their village or town.”

After a successful bid to the government’s Fire Service Improvement Fund last year, the project has been awarded £700,000.

The county council hopes to submit planning applications by autumn this year.