FEARS are growing over public services in South Tynedale after the latest cost-cutting measure was announced by Northumberland County Council.

The adult learning centre is set to close its base above Haltwhistle Library, on Westgate.

The authority said the centre was seeing an annual decline in student numbers, and running costs were making it no longer viable.

The adult learning service will continue, but will operate in different community buildings on an “as needed” basis.

Future use of the Haltwhistle base is under consideration. There will be no changes to library services.

The local authority is under pressure to make budget cuts, but members of Haltwhistle Town Council said the town had suffered too many reductions to front line services in recent times.

Its chairman, Coun. Alan Sharp, said: “I’m worried about what’s coming next.

“The household waste disposal centre is having its opening days reduced, there have been changes to the way public toilets are managed, and Haydon Bridge fire station is closing.

“These are front line services which local people need, deserve, and are paying for. They should be preserved.”

A county council spokesman said: “Rather than support the significant and uneconomical costs of running a permanent base, the adult learning service will be working on an ‘in-reach’ basis in future, using frontline development staff to work closely with local people.

“The service will hire community facilities to deliver adult learning activity on an ‘as needed’ basis.

“This new approach ensures that the service does not carry unnecessary overheads and also improves how it supports local community organisations.

“At the same time it ensures that courses are sustainable and more cost effective for those who use them.”

Transport costs could be provided for students who need to visit other adult learning centres, in Hexham and Prudhoe.

The spokesman added: “Due to increased national funding pressures, the council is having to take some difficult decisions on a number of frontline services, especially where the operation of a permanent building is very costly.”

joseph.tulip@hexham-courant.co.uk