Powys Council will debate the closures

Powys Council's principal scrutiny committee said the issue should be discussed by the full council.

The local authority's board had voted to close Llanfair Caereinion, Llanwrtyd Wells and Talgarth libraries to keep a mobile children's service open.

A small protest was held at the meeting in Llandrindod Wells where a 600- signature petition was handed in.

The libraries had been due to close at the end of the year, but the council said they would now remain open until a decision about their future had been made.

A council spokesman said: "The decision has been referred back to the full council, and there are several options to discuss.

False economy

"The libraries will remain open until a decision is made about their future."

Earlier this week, the council said savings made by shutting the libraries would allow it to keep open its popular Bookrunner children's service.

But an action group opposing the move claimed the decision represented a false economy, and said libraries played a "vital role".

Viola Evans, Llanfair Caereinion's county councillor, said she agreed with the committee's decision.

"So much came out at the meeting - it emerged that the board had not gone through alternative ways of saving money within the library service.

"We had a very good response and everybody was very supportive. People have now come to realise that all communities must get a fair share of services."

A Small town Library Action Group [Slag] has been formed to fight the closures and a demonstration has already been staged in Talgarth.