The opening hours at Penrith Library look set to be cut.

Councillors have been recommended to approve plans to reduce the opening hours from 52 hours a week to 46.

The changes would mean the library would close at 5pm on Mondays instead of 7pm – and would shut on Sundays.

It would still be open until 7pm on Tuesday evenings.

The changes are being suggested as Cumbria County Council seeks to make savings across its services.

A public consultation was held in July and August.

The issue will be discussed at the county council’s local committee for Eden next week.

In the report it says: “Ninety-two completed questionnaires were returned. Sixteen individuals completed the questionnaire online.

“The responses showed that 74 per cent of respondents accepted the proposal to end Sunday opening, 29 per cent of respondents deemed it unacceptable to end Sunday opening and five per cent offered no opinion.

“Regarding the proposals over evening opening hours, 40 per cent preferred to open until 6pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, 33 per cent preferred to open until 7pm on Tuesdays only, while 22 per cent preferred no change to the evening opening hours.”

The proposed changes will not impact on staff who will continue to work the same hours, with time being spent outside library hours on behind-the-scenes work while it is closed.

The meeting will be held on Tuesday at 10.30am at The Control Room at Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s headquarters at Penrith.