STOW Hill Library could be set to become a community-run facility after residents handed in a 1,000 name petition to keep it open.

Newport city councillor Debbie Wilcox, cabinet member for leisure and culture, says she has asked her fellow cabinet member Cllr Mark Whitcutt to give the building a stay of execution.

The library closed on Wednesday, but Cllr Wilcox now suggests the council could allow a group from the area launch a volunteer-run library from the site.

The idea is at a tentative stage, and no decisions have been made. It is thought the group would need grant funding.

“I spoke to Cllr Whitcutt, and I said to him could we have a stay of execution in terms of the building,” said Cllr Wilcox.

“What the group want to do is go away and see if they can develop a community library, certainly some kind of reading group facility there,” she said.

Alan Roderick, one of the campaigners against the closing of the library, said he would have preferred the status quo to have continued.

However he said an action group, which may be called StowHill Activists, is going to meet and attempt to come up with a viable business plan.

“I’m pleased that people stood up and were counted and I am grateful that a lot of people put a lot of effort into this,”

he said.

Cllr Whitcutt said the matter was yet to officially come into his portfolio, but said he was looking to meet with representatives from people in the community, like Mr Roderick.

He added he would look at the matter sympathetically.