COMMUNITY workers and union leaders have attacked cost-cutting council chiefs in Southampton over plans to scrap a children's book bus.

The city currently has two dedicated vehicles, including a mobile library aimed at older people.

But civic bosses are planning to axe the children's bus and merge the service into one - and axe jobs - to save about £60,000 a year as part of its budget plans.

The Daily Echo revealed this week that residents face a six per cent council tax rise increase this year, rather than the 14 per cent hike that was originally feared.

Council chiefs also shelved controversial plans to close football pitches and cut the opening hours of Oaklands Swimming Pool in Lordshill.

But they have pressed ahead with proposals to amalgamate the book services.

Union officials criticised the moves in the light of proposals to spend £370,000 on consultancy fees to look into setting up an independent trust

to run leisure services in Southampton.

Unison branch secretary Mike Tucker said three jobs would be at risk because of the plans.

He added: "These leisure cuts seem to be contrary to the council's policies of social inclusion and serving isolated communities.

"At the same time the council plans to spend all this money on looking at setting up the independent trust."

Council leaders claim about £1m would be shaved off the annual leisure services bill of £18m if a trust was set up to run facilities.

Eva Richmond, a community worker in Northam, said: "It is so child-orientated and goes into areas in the inner city where sometimes kids don't have the opportunities to access books and it's a real boost for families and parents to get involved and read."

The final decision on the future of the service will be taken at a budget-setting meeting next month.

Council leaders admit that if the merger went ahead it would effect the frequency of visits.

Graham Crabbe, 55, who attends the disability resource centre Sembal House in The Polygon, which receives visits from the mobile library, said: "It would be very difficult for the clients of Sembal House to visit the main library because there is a limited number of staff that could accompany the clients to the library.

"My main passion is reading and without the library bus I would find it almost impossible to visit a library because of the distance involved."

Councillor Peter Wakeford, Cabinet member for tourism and leisure, said: "The children's book bus is 14 years old and continually breaks down.

"We cannot afford to replace it and thought it would be better to amalgamate the children's book bus and mobile library on the same bus.

"It will mean a slightly reduced service from once every two to three weeks to once every four weeks."