Million-pound cuts to Sutton council’s library service will result in the closure of Beddington library and the scrapping of its mobile service, if agreed tonight.

The council said it had been forced to make the “unprecedented” cuts by budget constraints imposed by central government.

Campaigning union, Unite, is calling for an immediate reversal of cuts from council budgets, which they say have made libraries a ‘soft target’ for the chopping block.

A Unite spokeswoman said: “Libraries are a beacon of hope and practical assistance for people wishing to improve their literacy.

“It needs to be highlighted that local authorities have a statutory obligation to provide comprehensive library services as a quality service for communities.”

The final decision will be made tonight, following consideration on whether to close Beddington Library, discontinue the mobile library service and share library services with a neighbouring council.

The council said it had proposed the closures because of high running costs for visits and issuing books, against a ‘relatively low' number of users of both the library and mobile service.

From Sep 2015: Renewed call for residents to have their say on Sutton's looming £1m library cuts

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Conservative councillor Tim Crowley dismissed Unite’s suggestion that central government policy was to blame for the cuts.

He said: "Of course cuts have to be made, but it is the area that they [the council] make them in that concerns me."

He also said the council was more concerned about its greener borough plans.

Cllr Crowley said: "They would rather prioritise Planet Sutton, for example, which was a complete waste of time and money, considering they are missing most of their targets.

From Jan 29: Sutton Council accused of making "no progress" in its quest to become a One Planet Borough

“It is up to the council to set out their own priorities, not central government.”