Six new volunteer-run community libraries could be coming to Essex as a result of a recent consultation on the county council’s mobile library service.

Findings from the consultation, which began in September 2017, will be presented to the county council’s cabinet at its January meeting.

As a result, six community groups and organisations have come forward and expressed a firm interest in hosting a volunteer-run community library.

A total of 124 consultees expressed an interest in helping set up and maintain new community libraries that will be in keeping with residents’ needs.

The consultation set out to create access to library services which could provided a better fit with people’s lives across Essex.

Use of the current mobile library service has reduced nearly 50 per cent over the past seven years.

In addition, seven of the county council’s existing nine mobile library vehicles are at the end of the working lives, making them unreliable as well as expensive to replace.

Changes to proposals mean library stops will be 1.5 miles from a library, each stop will last half an hour, and stops used by one or more visitor on average in the past six months will be retained.

Essex County Council’s Cabinet will consider the recommendations at its meeting on January 23.