DECISIONS on the opening hours of a “prized asset” in a Borders town have been questioned.

Kelso councillor Euan Robson, of the Liberal Democrats, asked when accessibility to the town’s library would return to pre-coronavirus levels.

Galashiels councillor Euan Jardine, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for wellbeing, sport and culture, said that opening hours are based on “demand, available resources and provision of safe usage for staff and customers”.

“Despite reopening contact centres and library contact centres customer demand via telephone and email channels remain largely at the same levels indicating a shift in contact preferences by customers,” said Mr Jardine, of the Conservatives.

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“It is unlikely, due to the changes in demand, that sites will simply return to pre-COVID opening hours or times.

“Adjustments to opening times will reflect demand and the particular needs of those accessing the sites face-to-face.”

Mr Jardine said that the expansion of mobile library services, click and collect, and the provision of digital reading devices will have contributed to the drop in demand for face-to-face facilities.

He confirmed that opening hours at all sites across the Borders will be increased “gradually over the next few months”, but that it must be done in a “manner to ensure customer and staff safety as well as meeting the customer demand for face-to-face based services”.

Responding, Mr Robson said he was “very surprised” with parts of the answer, adding that he had been contacted by “a number of quarters about the opening hours”.

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“I would hope that the hours could be extended as there’s a demand there,” he said. “I find it difficult to understand how the demand can be assessed when the doors are closed.

“How do we know that there wouldn’t be more footfall if the doors were open?”

Mr Robson added: “Kelso library is an important asset which we do not want to see wither on the vine, particularly as investment was made in meeting facilities in there which the groups that have approached me wish to use and can’t currently do so.”

Mr Jardine said that the Kelso councillor had “hit the nail on the head” about assessing demand when the doors are closed, adding that he would push for the library’s opening hours to be looked at.