A campaign group opposed to changes proposed for Cockermouth Library is calling the public consultation “wholly inadequate” and wants the deadline to be extended.

More than 400 people have signed a petition set up by Friends of Cockermouth Library group, who say the planned changes will have a detrimental effect on the service.

Richard Watson, of Cockermouth, is one of those leading the campaign. He said: “Everyone is keen to support the petition. We have had to mobilise this very quickly, it’s not been easy, but the response has been very positive.”

Plans are under way to transfer the Main Street library, from the county council to the town council. The councils are in talks about the transfer, which would see the tourist information move into the library building. A final decision is due early next year.

A public consultation was launched this week and will run until December 23. Drop-in events will be held at Cockermouth Library on Monday, December 5, from 1pm to 6pm, and Wednesday, December 14, from 9.30am to 1pm.

“This is wholly inadequate,” said Mr Watson. “People have had very little notice and two drop-in sessions does not sound like a proper consultation.

“I think it should be held over until after Christmas when people have time to focus on it.”

Up to 20 people attended a meeting this week in Wild Zucchinis in Cockermouth.

Mr Watson said: “The first concern is that this facility will cease to function as an effective library - there will not be any proper library staff and the building is just too small to shoehorn all these different services in there.

“We are all in favour of creating a real community hub in Cockermouth, but it should be in a building which is fit for purpose and the current library premises are simply not big enough.

“Our second worry is that this consultation period is planned for the three weeks before Christmas when people’s minds are elsewhere.

“We haven’t heard of any individual or user group who has been contacted and asked for their views. It feels like a paper exercise.”

Cockermouth town councillor Alan Smith is calling for the issue to be discussed at the monthly meeting at 7pm, on December 14.

“It needs to be on the agenda and debated in a council meeting so that people can hear what’s planned straight from the horses’ mouths,” said coun Smith.

The petition can be found at www.cumbria.gov.uk , search for ePetitions. There is a hard copy in Allisons chemist and Wild Zucchinis.